1 


( 


c 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


78TH  REGIMENT  0.  V.  V.  L, 


FROM 


ITS  "MUSTER-IN"  TO  ITS  "MUSTER-OUT;" 


COMPRISING 


ITS  ORGANIZATION,  MARCHES,  CAMPAIGNS, 
BATTLES  AND  SKIRMISHES. 


BY  REV.  THOMAS  M.  STEVENSON, 

CHAPLAIN   OF  THE   REGIMENT. 


(SOLD    ONLY   BY*   SUBSCRIPTION.) 


ZANESYILLE,  OHIO: 
PUBLISHED   BY   HUGH    DUNNE, 

XORTH.FOUP.Ta   STREET.   ADJOIM.\«    TUS   COCKT  HOUSE. 
1865, 


7 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S65,  bj- 

HUGH  DUNNE,  PUBLISHER, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the! District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern  District 

' 


PRINTED  BY  LOGAN  &  DODDS 
Zauesville,  O. 


TO    THE 

HON.   CHARLES   W.   POT  WIN, 

WHOSE    PATRIOTIC    DEVOTION    TO   THE 

INTERESTS     OF     OUR     SOLDIERS 

WAS    CONSPICUOUS    D-URIN*€r    THE    WAR  — 

WHOSE   TIMELY  ^ENV/OL^OS ' 
RELIEVED    FROM    WANT    THE    FAMILIES 

OF   MANY    OF   THE 

«  S  E  V  E  N"  T  Y  -  E  I  G  II  T  II    ()  II  I  <) , " 

THIS   VOLUME   IS   RESPECTFULLY   DEDICATED. 


M160974 


TO   THE   READER. 


In  introducing  this  Book  to  the  reader.,  we  do  not  propose 
to  present  a  history  of  the  slave-holders'  war  and  suppression 
of  the  Great  Rebellion,  bnt  a  minute  and  unvarnished  narra 
tion  of  the  battles  and  campaigns  of  the  SEVENTY-EIGHTH 
REGIMENT  OF  OHIO  VOLUNTEERS,  Xo  body  of  ffinen  in  the 
service  have  taken  part  in  a  greater  number  of  •skirmish vs 
and  battles  —  traveled  over  more  territory-,  and  participated 
in  more  important -campaigns. 

It  has  for  nearly  four  years  been  "constantly  in  the  front,  and 
during  the  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold  has  l>een  actively 
engaged.  Its  heaviest  and  most  important  marches  have 
been  performed  during  the  winter  months ;  through  a  coun 
try  thought  by  rebels  impracticable  for  active  operations. 
The  leaders  of  the  enemy  were  confident  of  victory,  believ 
ing  that  the  army  of  General  Sherman  must,  sooner  or  later, 
be  utterly  destroyed  in  the  rivers  and  swamps  of  a  country 
through  which  the  inhabitants  could  scarcely  pass  in  tim&s 
of  peace. 


VI  TO    THE    READER. 

The  Regiment  lias  passed  through  nearly  every  State  of 
the  would-be  Confederacy,  going  in  at  Paclucah,  Ivy.,  march 
ing  nearly  all  the  way  to  Grand  Gulf  and  Vicksburg; 
passing  through  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Alabama, 
Georgia,  the  Carolinas  and  Virginia. 

A  history  of  these  long  wearisome  marches  and  their 
battles,  will  certainly  be  of  interest  not  only  to  the  brave 
soldiers  of  the  Regiment,  but  to  every  true  patriot  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  the  Federal  Army. 

.Never  in  the  history  of  the  world,  did  an  enemy  fight  with 
more  obstinate  determination  than  the  rebel  army.  The- 
whole  power  of  church  and  State  combined  stretched  every 
nerve  and  sinew  of  war  to  their  utmost  tension,  to  accom 
plish  their  vile  and  ambitious  purpose — the  establishment 
of  a  Confederacy  whose  corner-stone  should  be  slavery. 
For  the  attainment  of  this  object  every  species  of  misrepre 
sentation,  falsehood  and  fraud,  were  resorted  to,  to  arouse 
the  passions  of  the  Southern  people  against  the  Korth  and 
1 1  ortl lern  i  nsti  tutions . 

"With  the  details  of  this  volume  the  soldiers  of  the  Severity- 
Eighth  Regiment  are  familiar.  It  has  been,  therefore, 
written  as  a  text  book  to  guide  you  in  your  conversation 
with  families  and  friends  of  the  honored  dead ;  and  will  be 
a  reminder  of  what  you  have  done  in  vindicating  and 
upholding  the  liberties  of  your  country  —  the  hardships  and 
privations  you  have  endured,  the  sacrifices  you  have  made 
for  the  Union.  It  has  been  published  in  a  durable  form, 
that  you  may  preserve  it  for  your  children,  that  they  may 
read  what  their  fathers  have  done  in  suppressing  a  Rebellion 
which  has  created  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  this  Great 
Republic.  ' 


'TO    THE   READER.  Vli 

Such  a  record  is  justly  due  the  brave  men  of  the  Seventy- 
Eighth,  to  whom  this  work  is  dedicated.  Let  the  father, 
during  the  long  winter  evenings,  gather  around  him  his 
children,  the  son  his  parents  and  sisters,  and  read  it  chapter 
by  chapter,  and  tell  them  what  part  he  took,  and  his  position 
in  every  battle. 

The  facts  and  events  here  recorded  will  furnish  material 
H    many  an   evening's   conversation,   and  pleasant  recol 
lections. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT 

OF  OHIO  INFANTRY  VOLUNTEERS. 


In  the  autumn  of  1861  the  rebellion  began  to  assume  such 
a  magnitude,  and  degree  of  earnestness  of  purpose  with  the 
people  of  the  South,  that  it  behooved  the  friends  of  the  Union 
to  make  greater  efforts  than  they  had  hitherto  made  to  re 
cruit  and  reinforce  the  army,  now  insufficient  in  numbers  and 
discipline  to  protect  the  borders  and  defend  the  National 
Capital.  The  rebel  armies  had  possession  of  almost  every 
slave  State,  and  were  contending  with  alternate  success  for 
Missouri  and  Kentucky.  In  the  East  the  enemy  was 
entrenched  within  cannon  range  of  Washington  City. 

Darkness  enveloped  the  nation.  The  nation's  life  was  in 
imminent  danger.  The  bugle  gave  the  alarm  to  all  parts 
of  the  country,  that  all  would  soon  be  lost  unless  the  people 
would,  with  one  accord,  rally  round  the  standard  of  the 
Union.  Many  had  already  responded  to  their  country's 
call,  and  were  bravely  and  nobly  holding  the  enemy  in 
check,  but  must  soon  be  overwhelmed  unless  reinforced  by 
the  strong  and  patriotic  men  who,  as  yet,  seemed  not  to 
realize  the  peril  of  the  nation. 

The  response  to  the  earnest  and  loud  call  of  the  nation 
was  soon  made.  Men  left  the  plow,  the  workshop,  the  desk 
and  the  pulpit,  determined  not  only  to  drive  back  the 
enemy,  but  to  push  the  war  into  the  very  heart  of  rebcldom, 
that  the  rebels  who  had  instituted  the  war  might  see  its 
desolations  and  feel  its 'terrible  and  frightful  consequences. 


10  HISTORY  OP  TUB 

M.  D.  Leggett,  then  Superintendent  of  tlie  Public  Schools 
of  the  City  of  Zanesville,  felt  that  it  was  his  duty  to  abandon 
his  high  position  of  usefulness  and  go  in  defense  of  the  flag 
of  his  country.  He  made  an  appeal  to  others  in  whose 
patriotism  he  had  confidence,  and  who  occupied  positions 
similar  to  his  own,  but  who  had 'not,  as  yet,  the  most  remote 
idea  of  engaging  in  the  bloody  conflict  then  going  on  in  the 
nation.  Many  come  forth  at  once  in  response  to  the  appeal 
of  Lt.  Colonel  Leggett,  and  encouraged  him  in  his  efforts  to 
enlist  men  for  the  war.  It  was  proposed  to  raise  a  regiment, 
and  that  M.  I).  Leggett  take  the  lead,  many  promising  to 
engage  in  the  work  under  his  superintendence.  He  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel  by  Governor  Tod,  and 
authorized  to  raise  a  regiment  to  be  known  as  the  SEVENTY- 
EIGHTH  REGIMENT  OP  OHIO  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY.  He  at 
once  selected  his  men  to  superintend  the  raising  of  compa 
nies  in  the  counties  of  Muskingum,  Morgan,  Guernsey,  No 
ble,  Monroe,  Belmont  and  Columbiana.  Recruiters  for  other 
regiments  were  already  at  work  in  this  field,  and  putting 
forth  their  best  efforts  to  fill  up  regiments  not  yet  complete. 
Colonel  Leggett  visited  all  the  important  places  in  these 
counties,  and  by  his  earnest  and  eloquent  appeals  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  people,  aroused  them  to  a  sense  of  their 
fluty  to  their  bleeding  country.  Strong,  young  and  intelli 
gent  men  were  induced  to  leave  all,  and  fly  to  their  country's 
rescue. 

The  regiment  rendezvoused  in  Camp  Gilbert,  near  "West 
Zanesville,  and  on  the  llth  of  January,  1862,  was  organized 
and  reported  ready  for  the  field.  It  mustered  nine  hundred 
and  forty  men.  JSTo  other  regiment  excelled  it  in  intelligence 
and  high-toned  morality.  It  had,  perhaps,  more  professors 
of  religion  than  any  other  regiment  recruited  in  the  State. 
Genuine  patriotism  inspired  every  heart. 

It  sustained  its  high  Christian  character  in  all  the  battles, 
marches  and  campaigns -in  which  it  was  engaged  during 
nearly  four  years  of  service.  It  has  for  the  first  time  to  be 
driven  back,  or  surprised  and  panic-stricken  by  the  enemy ; 


SEVEXTY-E1GIITH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  11 

it  never  disgraced  in  the  field  or  in  camp  its  commander,  by 
cowardice  or  outrage. 

Xo  regiment  has  a  purer  record.  In  discipline  it  was 
thorough  and  complete ;  quick  to  destroy  when  ordered,  and 
ready  to  let  alone  and  spare  the  enemy  when  destruction 
and  slaughter  were  useless.  Under  the  command  of  Colonel 
M.  D.  Leggett  the  regiment  left  the  State,  and  arrived  at 
Fort  Donelson,  Tenn.,  February  15th,  1862,  while  that  des- 
]  toratc  battle  was  in  progress.  It  took  an  active  part  in  all  the 
bloody  battles  in  the  West  under  General  Grant,  and  after- 
Avards,  General  Sherman.  First  Shiloh,  Siege  of  Corinth, 
thence  it  marched  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  thence  to  Bolivar, 
Grand  Junction  and  LaGrange,  where,  with  the  Twentieth 
and  Sixty-Eighth  Ohio  regiments,  it  was  in  the  field  daily, 
breaking  up  rebel  encampments  and  harassing  the  enemy 
between  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  and  luka,  Miss. 

It  commenced  the  winter  campaign  under  General  Grant 
into  the  interior  of  Mississippi,  and  returned  after  a  march 
of  two  hundred  miles  to  Grand  Junction.  Thence  it  marched 
to  Memphis  and  Yicksburg,  and  took  an  active  part  in  run 
ning  the  transports  past  the  rebel  batteries,  during  the  cover 
of  night,  which  solved  the  difficult  problem  of  the  capture 
of  that  city. 

It  crossed  the  Mississippi  River  below  Grand  Gulf  and  did 
its  full  share  of  fighting  in  the  battles  of  Port  Gibson,  Ray 
mond,  Jackson,  Champion's  Hill,  Black  River,  and  Siege  of 
Yicksburg.  After  the  surrender  of  Yicksburg,  it  made  an 
important  campaign  under  General  Sherman  to  Clinton  and 
Jackson ;  and  a  second  campaign  to  Monroe,  La. 

February  1st,  1864,  it  commenced  the  long  and  most 
destructive  campaign  of  the  war,  through  Central  Mississippi 
to  its  extreme  eastern  boundary. 

The  20th  of  March,  1864,  the  regiment  started  from 
Yicksburg  for  home,  on  veteran  furlough.  May  7th  it  left 
Columbus,  Ohio,  for  Georgia,  marching  from  Clifton,  Tenn., 
to  Rome,  Ga,,  via  Huntsville,  Ala.;  thence  to  Big  Shanty, 
where  it  took  an  important  part  in  all  the  bloody  conflicts  of 


12  HISTORY  OP   THE 

the  Atlanta  campaign.  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Nickajack, 
Chattahooche,  Jonesboro,  and  Lovejoy  are  all  grave-yards 
of  its  heroic  dead. 

After  three  weeks  rest  it  started  on  the  campaign  into 
Northern  Alabama,  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  under  the 
command  of  General  Hood.  It  soon  returned  to  Atlanta, 
where  it  was  partly  supplied  with  clothing,  and  on  the  13th 
day  of  November,  1864,  entered  on  the  greatest  campaign 
on  record,  through  Central  Georgia  to  Savannah,  thence  to 
Beaufort,  South  Carolina,  Pocotaligo,  Columbia,  Bennetts- 
ville,  Washington  City,  and  Louisville,  Ky.;  in  all  more  than 
four  thousand  miles  the  regiment  traveled  on  foot,  three 
thousand  by  railroad,  and  twenty-six  hundred  by  water; 
making  a  total  of  nine  thousand  six  hundred  miles. 

The  loss  of  th 3  regiment  was  ninety  killed  in  battle,  two 
hundred  wounded,  thirty  missing  in  action,  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  died  of  disease,  two  hundred  and  ninety-five 
discharged  for  disability,  seventy  deserted,  and  thirty-one 
transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 


SECOND   BRIGADE,   THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVEN 
TEENTH  ARMY  CORPS. 

WHAT  THEY  HAVE  DONE,  AND  WHERE  THEY  CAME  FROM— HISTORY  OF  THE 
SECOND  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVENTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS. 

This  brigade  was  organized  at  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  in  the 
month  of  November,  1862,  under  the  cgmmand  of  Colonel 
(now  Major- General)  M.  D.  Leggett,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Ohio,  who  commanded  it  during  the  entire  campaign 
through  Northern  Mississippi  to  Water  Valley  and  back  to 
Memphis,  and  thence  down  the  Mississippi  River  to  Lake 
Providence,  thence  to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  in  that  memor 
able  campaign  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  participating  in  all 
the  battles  fought  in  that  campaign.  Colonel  Legget  having 
been  promoted  to  a  Brigadier-General,  still  retaining  com 
mand  of  the  brigade  until  in  June,  ISO'S,  he  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  first  brigade,  when  the  command 
devolved  on  Colonel  (now  Brevet  Major-General)  M.  F. 
Force,  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  who  commanded  until  No 
vember,  1863,  when  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  first  brigade,  third  division  of  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps.  The  command  then  devolved  on  Colonel  (now  Brig 
adier-General)  R.  K  Scott,  of  the  Sixty-Eighth  Ohio,  who 
commanded  it  until  the  22d  of  July,  in  front  of  Atlanta, 
where  he  was  taken  prisoner,  when  the  command  devolved 
on  Colonel  (now  Brevet  Brigadier-General)  G»F.  Wiles,  of  the 
Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  who  commanded  until  Colonel  Scott 
was  exchanged,  on  the  28th  day  of  September,  1864,  when 
he  resumed  command  of  the  brigade  and  commanded  it 
until  the  28th  day  of  December,  1864,  while  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  when  he  was  granted  a  leave  of  absence  to  go  ]N~orth  to 
recuperate  his  health  and  visit  his  family  in  Ohio.  While  at 
home  he  was  appointed  a  Brigadier-General,  on  the  12th 
day  of  January,  1865.  He  rejoined  the  brigade  at  Golds- 


14  HISTORY    OF   THE 

boro,  IsTorth  Carolina,  on  the  25tli  day  of  March,  1865, 
and  resumed  command  of  the  brigade,  since  which 
time  he  has  commanded  it.  During  his  absence  in  January 
and  February,  1865,  Colonel  G.  F.  Wiles,  'of  the  Seventy- 
Eighth  Ohio,  commanded  the  brigade.  The  brigade  has 
been  in  all  the  principal  battles  and  marches  in  which  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  has  taken  part,  from  Fort  Donelson 
tip  to  the  surrender  of  Johnston  in  North  Carolina.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  battles  inscribed  on  its  banner: 

Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Siege  of  Corinth,  Bolivar,  Inka, 
Corinth,  Matamora,  Thompson's  Hill,  Raymond,  Jackson, 
Champion  Hills,  Fort  Hill,  Vicksburg,  Fort  Beauregard, 
Bocachita,  Meridian  Raid,  Big  Shanty,  Bushy  Mountain, 
Kenesaw,  Nickajack,  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Atlanta,  July  21st, 
Atlanta,  July  22d,  Atlanta,  July  28th,  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy, 
Milledgeville,  Savannah,  Pocotaligo,  Orangeburg,  Charles 
ton,  Columbia,  Bentonville — 34  in  all. 

Brigadier- General  R.  K.  Scott  and  staif ;  1st  Lieut.  Henry 
Welty,  of  68th  Ohio,  A.  A.  A.  G.;  1st  Lieut.  Jasper  II. 
Smith,  of  68th  Ohio,  A.  A.  D.  C.;  1st  Lieut.  Rus.  Bethel,  of 
78th  Ohio,  A.  A.  D.  C.;  1st  Lieut.  Henry  E.  Bigelow,  of 
78th  Ohio,  A.  A.  Q>  M.;  Capt.  Rollin  II.  Crane,  of  17th  Wis 
consin,  Pro.  Mar.  and  Brig.  Insp.;  1st  Lieut.  George  Thormi, 
of  20th  Ohio,  in  charge  of  brigade  ambulances;  Capt.  Ed.  E. 
~Nu.it,  of  20th  Ohio,  Picket  Officer. 

TWENTIETH    OHIO    VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY. 

The  Twentieth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteers  was  organized  at 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  in  the  months  of  September  and  Octo 
ber,  1861,  and  first  commanded  by  Col.  Chas.  Whittlesey,  of 
Cleveland,  Ohio.  It  was  engaged  during  the  winter  of  1861 
and  1862  in  quelling  an  insurrectionary  district  in  Kentucky, 
In  February  it  moved  up  the  Cumberland  river,  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  and  thereafter  became  a  part  of 
Grant's  army  of  the  West,  now  known  as  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee.  The  battles  and  marches  of  this  famous  army 
are  the  record  of  the  regiment.  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Bolivar,  Matamora,  Mississippi  Central  Expedition,  Thomp- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  l'> 

son's  Hills,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills,  Si  ego  of 
Vickstmrg,  Meridian  Eaid,  Big  Shanty,  Keiiesaw,  Nickajack, 
and  Atlanta  22d  and  28th,  at  the  Siege  of  Atlanta,  Jone^~ 
boro,  and  Lovejoy — the  pursuit  of  Hood  in  Xortli  Georgia 
and  Alabama — Sherman's  march  to  the  sea  and  through  the 
Carolinas,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Savannah,  Poco- 
taligo,  Orangebtirg,  Bennettsville,  &c.  The  regiment  re- 
enlisted  as  veteran  volunteers  at  Yicksburg,  Miss.,  on  the 
1st  day  of  January,  1864;  it  has  lost  in  action  since  coming 
into  the  field  nearly  four  hundred  men ;  its  present  aggre 
gate  is  five  hundred.  Soon  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh  Colt 
"Whittlesey  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Colonel  M.  F. 
Force  (now  Brevet  Major-General).  Since  General  Force V 
promotion  the  regiment  has  not  had  a  Colonel — not 
having  the  "minimum"  required  to  secure  and  muster  in 
that  grade.  It  has  since  been  commanded  successively  by 
Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  E".  McElroy,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  (\ 
Fry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harry  Wilson.  The  latter  of  whom 
has  commanded  on  the  march  through  Georgia  and  the  Car 
olinas.  The  following  is  at  present  the  field  and  staff  of  the 
regiment:  Harry  Wilson,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  P.  Wcath- 
erby,  Major;  II.  P.  Trickee,  Surgeon;  'J.  W.  Guthru-, 
Assistant  Surgeon;  II.  0.  Dwight,  Adjutant;  J.  W.  Skil- 
len,  Quartermaster,  E"ine  medals  of  honor  have  been  grant 
ed  as  follows  in  the  regiment:  Lieutenant-Colonel  Harry 
Wilson,  Captain  L.  ]^.  Ayers,  Captain  Charles  Stevenson, 
Captain  Ed.  E.  Xutt,  Sergeant  William  Blackburn,  Ser 
geant  John  Rinehart,  Sergeant  David  Hobbins,  Private 
John  Alexander,  and  Private  M.  Elliott. 

XIXTH   ILLINOIS  MOUNTED   INFANTRY. 

The  Xinth  Illinois  Infantry  was  organized  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States 'service  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  on  the 
25th  day  of  April,  1861,  under  command  of  Colonel  (latr 
Brigadier-General)  E.  A.  Paine.  At  the  expiration  of  three 
months,  the  regiment  was  recruited  for  the  term  of  three' 
years,  retaining  its  number  and  original  field  officers;  and 


16  HISTORY   OF   THE 

was  stationed  during  this  time  at  Cairo,  Illinois.  September 
1st  Colonel  Paine  was  promoted  to  Brigadier,  and  the  com 
mand  devolved  on  Colonel  Augustus  Mersey.  September 
4tli  and  5th  moved  up  the  river  and  took  peaceable  posses 
sion  of  the  city  of  Paducah,  Kentucky.  February  5th, 
1862,  started  with  the  expedition  against  Fort  Henry  in  the 
second  division,  Army  of  Tennessee,  commanded  by  Briga 
dier-General  C.  F.  Smith.  After  the  fall  of  Henry  marched 
with  the  command  across  to  Fort  Donelson,  taking  part  in 
the  attack  on  that  stronghold,  and  in  the  engagement  of 
.the  15th,  losing  33  men  killed,  165  wounded,  and  6 
missing.  After  the  surrender  of  Donelson  moved  up  the 
river  to  Clarksville  and  ^Nashville,  from  thence  down  the 
Cumberland  and  up  the  Tennessee,  arriving  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  on  the  18th  of  March;  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Shiloh  on  the  6th  and  7th  of  April,  1862;  losing  on 
that  field  in  officers  and  men,  killed,  74,  wounded,  280, 
missing,  10.  In  the  month  of  May,  following,  took  part  in 
the  siege  of  Corinth,  having  18  men  wounded  in  skirmishes. 
After  the  evacuation  of  that  place,  was  stationed  there 
and  at  different  times  at  Danville  and  Ilienzi,  Mississippi, 
until  the  3d  of  October,  when  the  regiment  took  part  in  the 
defense  of  Corinth  against  Price  and  Van  Dorn,  losing  in  all 
20  killed  and  82  wounded.  Was  stationed  at  Corinth  during 
the  winter  of  '62  and  '63.  March  4th,  1863,  the  regiment 
being  much  reduced  in  numbers  was  ordered  to  be  mounted, 
and  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  celebrated  Colonel 
Cornyn,  of  the  Tenth  Missouri  Cavalry,  making  several 
dashes  with  him  into  Northern  Alabama  and  Mississippi. 
On  the  3d  of  June,  1863,  moved  camp  to  Pocahontas,  Ten 
nessee,  making  innumerable  scouts  and  marches,  and  taking 
part  in  the  raid  on  Grenada,  Mississippi,  in  which  54  loco 
motives,  500  cars,  and  a  large  amount  of  Ordinance,  Quar 
termaster's  and  Commissary  stores  were  destroyed;  being 
engaged  during  this  time  in  sixteen  skirmishes  of  greater  or 
1  jss  importance,  losing  in  the  aggregate  ten  men  killed  and 
forty-two  wounded.  October  30th,  left  Pocahontas,  Tenn., 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.  V.   L  17 

on  the  13th  of  ]$Tovember,  arriving  and  being  stationed  on 
outpost  duty  at  Athens,  Alabama.  March  llth,  1864,  moved 
across  Tennessee  river  to  Decatur.  In  picket-skirmishing 
here  lost  two  men  killed  and  ten  wounded.  September  3d, 
1863, 128th  Illinois  Volunteers  was  consolidated  with  9th  Illi 
nois.  May  1st,  1864,  left  Decatur,  Ala,,  to  escort  Sixteenth 
Army  Corps  wagon  train  to  Chattanooga.  Arrived  at  Snake 
Creek  Gap,  Ga.,  in  time  to  take  the  advance  of  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee,  and  open  the  fight,  skirmishing  all  day, 
where  Lieutenant- Colonel  Phillips,  who  had  commanded  the 
regiment  ever  since  it  had  been  mounted,  was  wounded 
Lest  sixteen  men  killed,  wounded  and  .prisoners  that  day. 
Was  with  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  through  the  campaign 
ending  at  Lovejoy  Station.  Was  transferred  with  the  Second 
Division  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  to  the  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps,  and  stationed  for  some  time  at  Rome,  Ga.,  where,  in 
scouting  and  outpost  duty,  the  regiment  lost  ten  men.  On 
leaving  Atlanta,  in  Sherman's  campaign  to  the  sea,  the 
regiment  was  transferred  to  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps, 
but  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  Twentieth  Army  Corps, 
and  held  the  advance  of  that  Corps  from  Atlanta  to  Savan 
nah.  "Was  engaged  in  several  sharp  skirmishes,  losing  on 
the  campaign  two  officers  and  twenty-three  men.  On  the 
campaign  through  the  Carolinas  held  the  advance  of  the 
Seventeenth  Corps,  taking  part  in  all  the  battles  and  skir 
mishes  in  which  the  Corps  was  engaged  in  that  long  and 
eventful  campaign,  losing  one  of  its  best  officers  and  several 
men,  and  being  especially  complimented  in  General  Orders 
from  Headquarters  Department  and  Army  of  Tennessee,  for 
the  part  taken  in  the  action  at  River's  Bridge,  South  Caro 
lina.  The  regiment  was  reorganized  and  consolidated  on  the 
28th  day  of  July,  1864,  near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  by  reason  of 
the  lion -veterans,  about  350  men,  and  all  the  officers  but 
three,  being  mustered  out — the  command  devolving  upon 
Captain  S.  T.  Hughes.  The  regiment  was,  in  obedience  to 
orders  from  Major-General  McPherson,  commanding  the 


18  HISTORY    OF   TEE 

Department  and  Army  of  the  Tennessee,"  reorganized  as  a 
six  company  battallion,  known  and  numbered  as  the  Ninth 
Illinois  Mounted  Infantry  Volunteers.  "While  at  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  fa  veteran  detachment  of  the  Twenty-Seventh  Illi 
nois  Infantry  was  consolidated  with  it,  forming  the  seventh 
company.  Deleaving  Washington  to  come  West,  for  want 
of  adequate  means  of  transportation  for  their  horses,  the 
battallion  was'dismounted  and  assigned  to  the  Second  Brig 
ade,  Third  Division,  of  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  for  duty. 
The  aggregate  strength  of  the  battallion,  present  and  absent 
now,  is  578  men.  The  field  and  staff  officers  are :  S.  T. 
Hughes,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  commanding;  "William  Padon, 
Major;  D.  L.  Bigge,  Surgeon;  L.  L.  Troy,  Adjutant;  Sam 
uel  Cove,  Quartermaster. 

SIXTY-EIGHTH    OHIO   VETERAN    TOLUNTEER   INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organize  Fat  Napoleon,  Ohio,  Novem 
ber  21st,  1861,  from  whence  it  moved  to  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
January  13th,  1862,  and  moved  from  thence,  February  12th, 
1862,  by  way  of  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  to  Paducah,  Ivy., 
where  it  joined  the  fleet,  then  about  to  move  up  the  Cumber 
land  river  against  Fort  Donelson.  The  regiment  disem 
barked  below  the  Fort  and  joined  Grant's  army,  and  took 
part  ill  the  reduction  of  that  rebel  stronghold.  On  the  10th 
of  March  following  it  moved  across  the  country  with  the 
balance  of  the  army  to  Metal  Landing  on  the  Tennessee 
river",  six  miles  above  Fort  Henry,  where  it  took  steamer  for 
Pittsburg  Landing,  but  before  arriving  there  received  orders 
to  stop  at  Crump's  Landing,  five  miles  below  Pittsburg ;  it 
formed  a  part  of  the  Second  Brigade  of  General  Lew  Wal 
lace's  Division.  The  brigade  was  commanded  by  Colonel 
Tliayer,  of  the  1st  Nebraska,  (now  Brigadier- General);  it 
was  not  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Shlloh,  being  left  in  charge 
of  camp  and  train  at  Crump's  Landing.  It  took  part  in  the 
skirmishes  in  'the  advance  on  Corinth,  and  the  siege  of  that 
place.  After  the  fall  of  Corinth  it  was  marched  to  Bolivar, 
Tennessee,  and  took  part  in  the  movement  on  luka,  and  in 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  I$\ 

the  battle  of  Matamora,  on  the  Ilatcliie  river,  with  Price 
and  Van  Dorn ;  after  which  it  forme<J  part  of  the  Second 
Brigade  of  General  John  A.  Logan's  Division,  and  was  in 
the  Northern  Mississippi  campaign,  and  arrived  at  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  January  25,  1863 :  from  thence  it  moved  down 
the  Mississippi  river  to  Lake  Providence,  and  helped  to  dig 
the  canal  from  the  river  to  the  lake  at  that  place ;  from 
thence  it  moved  down  the  river  to  Milliken's  Bend,  and 
assisted  in  building  the  military  road  from  the  Bend  to  Xew 
Carthage — the  road  by  which  Grant's  army  moved  to  gain 
the  river  below  Vicksburg— - -and  on  the  1st  day  of  May, 
1863,  it  crossed  the  Mississippi  and  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Thompson's  Hill ;  following  the  enemy  closely,  it  took  part 
in  the  battles  of  Raymond,  Mississippi,  May  12,  1863,  and 
Jackson,  Mississippi,  May  14,  and  Champion  Hills,  May  16, 
1863,  and  participated  in  the  entire  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and 
all  the  raids  in  Mississippi,  from  Vicksburg  to  Jackson, 
Canton,  Bogachitta,  Meridian,  and  the  Monroe  raid,  in  Louis 
iana.  The  regiment  reorganized  as  veterans  December  15, 
1863,  and  went  home  as  a  veteran  organization  in  April. 
After  returning  to  Cairo,  May  10,  it  moved  with  its  old 
brigade,  second,  Third  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps, 
up  the  Tennessee  river  to  Clifton  Landing,  from  there  it 
marched  across  the  country  to  Hunts  vi  lie,  Alabama,  from 
there  to  Rome,  Georgia,  from  Rome  to  Ackworth,  where  it 
joined  Sherman's  army.  It  participated  in  the  fight  at  Big 
Shanty,  Bushy  Mountain,  Kenesaw,  Nickajack  Creek,  At 
lanta,  July  21st,  22d  and  23d,  and  the  entire  siege  of  Atlanta ; 
also  at  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy  Station ;  also  in  the  famous 
chase  after  Hood  through  Xorthern  Georgia  and  Alabama, 
and  in  "  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea,"  It  participated  in  the 
siege  of  Savannah,  and  Sherman's  raid  through  the  Caro- 
linas;  at  Pocataligo,  Orangeburg,  Columbia,  Bentonvilie, 
Raleigh,  etc.  The  regiment  has  marched  on  foot  over  live 
thousand  miles  since  its  first  organization.  The  regiment  wat 
first  commanded  by  Colonel  Samuel  H.  Steedman ;  he  wa« 
succeeded  by  Colonel  (now  Brigadier-General)  R.  K.  Scott ; 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE 

lie  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  George  E.  Welles, 
who  now  commands  it ;  the  regiment  not  being  a  minimum 
one,  is  not  entitled  to  a  Colonel.  The  regiment  has  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded  since  entering  the  field  over  three  hun 
dred  men.  The  aggregate  strength  of  the  regiment  at 
present  is  525,  375  of  whom  are  now  in  camp  for  duty.  The 
following  are  the  field  and  staff:  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Geo. 
E.  Welles;  Major,  Arthur  Crockett;  Surgeon,  John  G.  Big- 
ham;  Adjutant,  II.  Welty;  Quartermaster,  Elmer  Y.  Smutz, 

SEVENTEENTH    WISCONSIN    VETERAN    VOLUNTEER    INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Madison,  Wisconsin,  on 
the  10th  of  March,  1862,  under  orders  from  the  Governor, 
and  was  composed  principally  of  Irishmen.^  Its  original 
Colonel,  John  L.  Duran,  resigned  November  25th,  1862,  and 
was  succeeded  by  its  present  Colonel.  Shortly  after  its 
organization  the  regiment  was  called  to  Pittsburg  Landing, 
Tennessee,  where  it  joined  the  grand  army  under  Major- 
General  Grant,  then  about  to  advance  on  Corinth.  It  was 
assigned  to  the  First  Brigade,  Sixth  Division.  The  regiment 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  October  3d  and  4th, 
1862,  and  in  the  Mississippi  raid,  after  which  it  was  ordered 
to  Lake  Providence,  Louisiana.  It  took  an  active  part 
during  the  siege  and  battles  before  Yicksburg.  After  the 
fall  of  the  city  it  was  ordered  to  Natchez,  where  it  was 
mounted,  and  did  active  service  for  four  months.  On  the 
8th  of  March  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Wisconsin  on  vete 
ran  furlough,  and  returned  to  the  field  on  the  23d  day  of 
April,  1864,  reporting  to  Brevet  Major-General  Leggett, 
commanding  the  Third  Division,  of  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps.  Under  his  command  it  participated  in  the  campaign 
before  Kenesaw,  on  the  Chattahooche,  and  around  Atlanta — 
in  the  battles  of  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy's  Station,  Savannah. 
Pocataligo,  Orangeburg,  Columbia,  Bentonville.  The  regi 
ment  now  numbers  thirty-four  commissioned  officers  and  729 
non-commissioned  officer^  and  privates,  making  an  aggregate 
of  763  present  and  absent.  The  field  and  staff  officers  a^re 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.  V.   I.  21 

A.  G.  Malloy,  Brevet  Brigadier-General ;  Donald  D.  Scott, 
Lieutenant-Colonel;  P.  II.  McCauley,  Major;  Hardy  Den- 
nisten,  Adjutant;  Richard  Phelan,  Quartermaster;  George 
St.  Sune,  Assistant  Surgeon;  Francis  Fusseder,  Chaplain. 


COMPANY  OFFICERS,  NON-COMMISSIOKED  OFFI 
CERS  A1SD  ENLISTED  MEX 

OP  THE  DIFFERENT  COMPANIES,  AND  DISPOSITIONS  OF  THE  SAME;  ALSO 
THE  ORIGINAL  AND  VETERAN  ORGANIZATIONS,  TOGETHER  WITH  THE 
NAMES  OF  RECRUITS  AND  DRAFTED  MEN  ADDED  TO  THE  RESPECTIVE 
COMPANIES. 

.A. 


Was  raised  in  Muskingum  and  Guernsey  counties  by 
Horace  D.  Munson,  of  Putnam,  Ohio,  and  organized  Novem 
ber  21st,  1861.  II.  D.  Munson  was  appointed  Captain., 
Thomas  P.  "Wilson  First  Lieutenant,  and  James  T.  Caldweli 
Second  Lieutenant. 

During  the  whole  war  there  was  not,  perhaps,  a  company 
of  Letter,  higher  toned  men  left  their  State.  They  were  of  the 
very  best  men  of  the  community  in  which  they  lived.  Stu 
dents  attending  Muskingum  College,  the  sons  of  worthy 
farmers  and  business  men,  made  up  the  company.  There- 
were  but  few  who  had  not  a  good  education,  and  were  not 
members  of  the  church,  or  the  sons  of  those  who  were  living, 
active  Christians.  The  company  maintained  its  Christian 
integrity  and  high-toned  character  throughout  its  whole 
term  of  service.  Its  record  is  brilliant  with  noble  deeds  and 
sacrifices  in  sustaining  the  honor  of  the  flag  which  led  them 
through  so  many  hard  battles,  daring  campaigns,  and  always 
on  to  victory  and  complete  success.  The  men  of  Company 
"  A"  never  came  out  second  best  in  anything  —  in  coolness, 
courage,  discipline,  facility  and  rapidity  of  military  move 
ments  and  combinations,  and  every  attainment  —  had  few 
requests  to  make,  no  faults  to  find;  as  good  soldiers  they 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  23 

could  not  be  excelled.  For  reliability,  faithfulness  in  every 
duty,  quiet  submission  to  all  orders,  integrity,  and  consistent 
..Christian  character,  the  company  could  not  be  surpassed. 

Captain  II.  D.  Munson  was  a  true  representative  of  the 
men,  combining  the  same  qualities.  He  was  well  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  his  irreproachable  character  and 
high  reputation  made  him  very  successful  in  gathering  under 
his  banner  the  very  best  class  of  men.  Miss  Julia  Munson, 
noted  for  her  high  attainments  both  in  vocal  and  instru 
mental  music,  entered  the  field  as  a  recruiter  of  volunteers, 
witf  i  her  father,  and  by  her  patriotic  songs  influenced  many 
to  enlist  in  the  regiment. 

~  Captain  Munson's  health  soon  failed  him,  and  was  there 
fore  compelled  to  quit  the  service.  He  resigned  in  the 
Autumn  of  1862.  Lieutenant  T.  P.  Wilson  succeeded  him 
as  Captain  of  the  Company. 

The  Captain  was  a  resident  of  Guernsey  County,  a 
well  to  do  farmer;  a  man  of  influence  in  his  community, 
a  consistent  and  earnest  Christian,  which  character  he 
deeply  impressed  upon  his  men,  so  that  profanity  and 
intemperance  were  seldom  known  among  his  men.  His 
term  of  service  expired  December,  1864,  when  he  was 
mustered  out  and  quit  the  service,  after  three  years  of 
faithful  service  to  his  country  and  to  the  noble  men  he 
had  so  long  commanded,  and  led  through  all  the  im 
portant  battles  in  which  the  regiment  participated.  Lieu 
tenant  Adolphus  W.  Search,  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment, 
succeeded  him  as  Captain,  which  was  an  excellent  ap 
pointment,  and  very  acceptable  to  the  Company.  He 
possessed  those  traits  of  character  which  maintained  that 
high  state  of  good  order  and  discipline  that  Captain 
Wilson  had  left  in  the  company.* 

James  T.  Caldwell,  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
aad  a  few  days  afterwards  fell  mortally  wounded,  at  the 
battle  of  Champion  Hills,  while  commanding  Company 
"K,"  temporarily.  "We  neither  flatter  nor  speak  too 

~~  Staff.* 


24  HISTORY  OF   THE 

strong,  when  we  say  that  no  more  efficient  and  better  officer, 
no  truer  Christian,  no  more  loyal  man  to  God  and  the 
nation,  and  no  more  worthy  young  man  ever  gave  his 
life  for  his  country. 

He  had  all  those  traits  of  character  that  make  life 
beautiful,  honored  and  loved  by  all  good  men.  After 
three  days  severe  suffering  from  his  wound  he  died  peace 
fully,  and  in  the  triumph  of  faith.  To  him  death  had 
no  terror;  its  sting  had  been  taken  away. 

"William  M.  Sleeth,  Commissary  Sergeant,  had  suc 
ceeded  Lieutenant  Caldwell  as  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  at  Atlanta.  He  was 
detached  in  October,  1864,  from  the  regiment,  to  the 
Commissary  Department  of  Third  Division,  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps,  where  he  remained  till  the  Winter  of  1865, 
when  he  returned  to  the  regiment  and  was  made 
Adjutant* 

Russel  Bethel  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and 
then  to  First  Lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Company  "A/* 
but  was  afterwards  detailed  on  the  Staff  of  Second  Brig 
ade.  He  is  an  officer  of  commanding  appearance,  a  young 
man  of  good  attainments,  and  character. 

He  received  a  medal  of  honor  from  the  War  Department, 
for  distinguished  bravery,  in  the  battle  before  Atlanta,  on 
tho  22d  day  of  July.  He  was  noted  somewhat  for  his  success 
in  teaching  disloyal  men  at  the  North  that  their  position  was 
an  unsafe  one,  and  a  horizontal  one  very  unexpectedly 
and  suddenly  assumed  was  the  better  plan,  by  which  he 
could  impart  to  them  lessons  of  wholesome  instructions. 

Sergeant  "William  H.  Cockins,  was  promoted  to  Second 
lieutenant  in  the  early  part  of  1865.  Hs  was  an  exem 
plary  young  man,  of  good  business  qualifications,  and  a 
fine  drill-master.  In  the  battle  before  Atlanta,  July  22d, 
1864,  he  was  severely  wounded. 

•See  Field  and  Staff. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I. 


The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization  of 
Company  "A:" 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  L.  W.  A.  Sinsabaugh,          3.  Milton  F.  Timms, 

2.  Israel  C.  Robinson,  4.  Win.  J.  Heskett, 

5.  Albert  Henderson. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  John  E.  Edgar,  5.  Henry  McCreary, 

2.  Gabriel  II.  Holland,  6.  Ezra  G.  Warne, 

3.  Isaiah  Moore,  7.  Joseph  I.  Geyer, 

4.  Wm.  H.  Cockins,  8.  Geo.  W.  Irvin. 

Wm.  Douglas,  1st  Musician,    James  Douglass,  2d  Musician, 
Joseph  Porter,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


Arthur,  James  C. 
Ayers,  Winfield  S. 
Barnum,  Philo  B. 
Barnet,  John  B. 
Bell,  David  E. 
Brewer,  James  M. 
Boyer,  John  E. 
Castor,  Philander  S. 
Caldwell,  James  T.,  jr., 
Copeland,  Joseph 
Corbin,  Charles  M. 
Cockins,  Simeon 
Coulter,  James  M. 
Connor,  Wilson  E. 
Crawford,  Henry  W. 
Crawford,  James 
Crawford,  Eobert  E. 
Cramblet,  Eli  B. 
Curtis,  James  P. 
Culbertson,  Eobert  F. 
Dickson,  Samuel 


Dickcrson,  Joshua 
Daugherty,  John  B. 
Douglas,  David 
Fleming,  James  E. 
Forsythe,  David  W. 
Fulton,  John 
Glenn,  Isaac 
Glenn,  Josiah  D. 
Hiatt,  James  II. 
Herron,  Isaac  G. 
Johnson,  Solomon 
Johnson,  Abram 
Kaemmerer,  Charles  W. 
Law,  John  G. 
Law,  Andrew 
Leadman,  John  IN". 
Linn,  Samuel  M. 
Lyori,  Wesley  M. 
Lyons,  John 
Mathews,  John  F. 
Matson,  Benjamin  F. 


|26  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Matchet,  John  L.  Button,  Wm.  A. 

Mercer,  Hiram  H.  Spring,  John  W. 

MahafFey,  James  II.  Speer,  Henry 

Maliaftey,  Robert  W.  Speer,  "William  S. 

McWhirter  John  Stewart,  Joseph  R. 

McFarland,  Robert  L.  Sterling,  James  F. 

Moorhead,  Hiram  Thompson,  Thomas  E. 

Munson,  Frank  Thompson,  David  R. 

Patton,  James  Turner,  Milton 

Parkhill,  James  Trace,  Mathias 

1  \  >rter,  Wm.  W.  Yogt,  Louis 

Richardson,  Geo.  W.  Wagstaff,  Henry  W 

Richey,  Geo.  II.  Waxier,  Wm.  R. 

Robinson,  Aaron  Walters,  Thomas  L. 

Ross,  John  P.  White,  William  G. 

Sarbaugh,  John  W.  Wilson,  George  W. 

Sines,  John  J.  Wilson,  James  R. 

Smith,  Geo.  F.  Wilson,  John  J. 

Shriver,  Robert  M.  J.  Wilson,  John  A, 

"Wilson,  David. 

Of  the  enlisted  men  the  following  have  died,  been  dis 
charged  for  disability,  or  killed  in  battle : 

Lieutenant  Henry  Specr,  mortally  wounded  at  Atlanta. 

Sergeant  Milton  F.  Timms,  discharged  for  disability. 

Sergeant  William  J.  Heskett,  mustered  out,  time  expired. 

Sergeant  Albert  Henderson,  discharged. 

Philander  S.  Castor,  discharged. 

John  B.  Daugherty,  time  expired,  mustered  out. 

Isaac  G.  Herron,  «         «  "  " 

James  II.  Hyatt,  «         «  «  « 

George  M.  Irvin,  died  of  disease. 

Henry  McCreary,  mustered  out,  time  expired. 

.Abraham  Johnson,         "         "         "        " 

James  F.  Sterling,          "         «        "         « 

Wesley  M.  Lyon,  killed  on  Fort  Hill,  Vicksburg. 

Louis  B.  Yogt,  killed  at  Champion  Hills. 

James  II,  Coulter,  died  of  disease. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  27 

'Henry  "W.  Crawford,  died  of  disease. 

Robert  A.  Culbertson,  " 

Joshua  Dickerson,       "  " 

James  E.  Fleming,     "  " 

Isaac  Glenn,  «  « 

Solomon  Johnson,       "  " 

(1harlcs  "W.  Kaemmerer,  died  of  disease. 

John  G.  Law,  "  " 

John  Lyons,  "  " 

John  F.  Mathews,  "  " 

Hiram  F.  Mercer,  "  •" 

John  McWhirter,  "  " 

George  H.  Richey,  "  " 

William  Button,  "  " 

John  W.  Spring,  "  " 

Joseph  Stewart,  "  " 

Josiah  D.  Glenn,  deserted. 

Lieutenant  Thomas  L.  Walters,  killed  in  battle. 

flames  C.  Arthur,  discharged. 

David  R.  Bell, 

James  S.  Caldwell,         " 

Joseph  Copeland,  " 

Simeon  Cockins,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Wilson  E.  Conner,  discharged. 

James  Crawford,  " 

William  G.  White,  mustered  out,  time  expired. 

Gabriel  II.  Holland,  mustered  out,  time  expired  and  prisoner. 

flumes  P.  Curtis,  discharged. 

William  Douglass.     " 

David  Douglass,        " 

Andrew  M.  Law,       " 

Samuel  M.  Linn,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Robert  McFarland,  discharged. 

James  Patton,  " 

Aaron  W.  Robinson,     " 

John  W.  Sarbaugh,       " 

William  R.  Maseler,      " 


28  HISTORY   OF  THE 

John  A.  Wilson,  discharged. 

Frank  Lerdman,  " 

Howard  S.  Abbott,        « 

James  II.  Mahaffey,       " 

Robert  W.  Mahaffey,     « 

Joseph  Porter,  " 

John  J.  Sines,  " 

Henry  W.  Wagstaff,      " 

David  Wilson,  " 

John  W.  Goshen,  " 

John  R.  Edgar,  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant. 

John  B.  Ross,  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant. 

January  5th,  1864,  the  regiment  accepted  the  offer  of  the 
Government,  which  was  four  hundred  dollars  bounty  to 
each  man,  and  re-enlisted  for  three  years  more,  and  became 
thereafter  a  veteran  organization. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  men  who  re-enlisted 
as  veterans,  together  with  their  rank  in  the  veteran  organ 
ization  : 

Isaiah  Moore,  First  Sergeant. 
John  B.  Barnett,  Second  Sergeant. 
John  L.  Matchett,  Third  Sergeant — wounded  in  battle. 
William  S.  Speer,  Fourth       "  "  " 

James  B.  Wilson,  Fifth          «  "  « 

Milton    Turner,     First  Corporal  —  arm   amputated  from 

wounds. 

Richard  M.  J.  Shriver,  Second  Corporal. 
Robert  R.  Crawford,  Third  Corporal. 
George  F.  Smith,  Fourth  Corporal. 
Robert  A.  Cockins,  Fifth  Corporal — wounded  in  battle. 
Hiram  Moorehead,  teamster  in  Pioneer  Corps,  Third  Div. 
Winiield  S.  Ay  res,  Private. 

John  II.  Boyd,  "          — wounded  in  battle. 

Charles  M.  Corbin,     " 
Eli  B.  Cramblet,          " 

Samuel  Dickerson,      "          —wounded  in  battle. 
James  Douglass,          " 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  29 

David  W.  Forsythe,  Private. 

John  Fulton,  " 

John  N".  Leadman,      " 

Frank  Munson,  " 

James  H.  Patton,         " 

George  II.  Richardson,  Private. 

George  C.  Smith,  « 

Thomas  R.  Thompson,       " 

David  R.  Thompson,  " 

Mathias  Trace,  "         taken  prisoner  in  Georgia. 

John  J.  Wilson,  " 

George  W.  Wilson,  " 

Ezra  G.  Warren,  "         wounded. 

James  M.  Brewer,  " 

William  Gatwood,  Private — wounded  at  Bennettsville. 

Sergeant  William  W.  Porter,  wounded  and  transferred. 

Philo  13.  Barnum,  Private — wounded. 

Joseph  L.  Geyer,  Hospital  Steward. 

James  Parkhill,  Private — died  of  wounds. 

John  W.  Morrison,    "    — died  of  disease. 

John  II.  Trace,  "    — died  in  rebel  prison. 

John  F.  Thompson,   "    — died  of  disease. 

John  R,  Wilson,         " 

John  W.  Wilson,       "  " 

The  following  named  men  have  been  ridded  to  the  com 
pany  as  recruits,  drafted  men  and  substitutes,  during  the 
fall  and  winter  of  1864 : 

Christian  Yon  Neidenheaser,  Drafted,  October,  1864. 
Thomas  Bell,  "  " 

Peter  Weaver,  "  " 

Casper  Zimmerman,  " 

Moses  Bash,  "  " 

Alexander  G.  Moore,  "  " 

Amos  Mabley,  «  « 

John  W.  Miracle,  «  u 

Young  Ogg,  « 

John  Ogg,  «  « 


80 


HISTORY   OF  THE 


Philip  S.  Smock,  Drafted,  October,  1864. 

Ludwick  Sherer,  " 

Andrew  J.  Thompson, 

William  Warren,          " 

Jacob  C.  Hinman,        " 

William  McJeffrey,      " 

Abel  Carnes,  " 

John  Kuntz,  " 

Hamilton  Caton,  " 

Japob  Chubb,  « 

Thomas  M.  Cordry,     " 

James  Dotson,  ** 

Samuel  ~N.  Frazier,       " 

John  W.  Fowler,  Volunteer  of  1862  for  three  years. 

John  C.  Wallace,  "  "  « 

1864 

a  n 


John  C.  Lorimore, 
John  McConaughy, 
Robtert  B.  Xelson, 
Jesse  W.  Wilson, 
Charles  S.  Wylie, 
John  Glenn, 
Hugh  Gillespie, 
William  Gillespie, 
John  A.  Henderson,        " 
Joseph  T.  Matchett, 
Alexander  McConaughy, 
John  W.  McXutt, 
Joseph  Ramsey, 
Kobert  S.  Speer, 
Solomon  J.  Donaldson, 
Alexander  Cox, 
Thomas  Dickson, 
Preston  H.  Forsythe, 
Samuel  H.  Hughs, 
Joseph  li.  Marshall, 
Benjamin  F.  Watson, 
Jefferson  H.  Miller, 


"     wounded. 


1862 


"      wounded, 


"     wounded. 

died  of  disease. 

it  K. 


killed  in  battle, 
of 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  31 

Joseph  G.  Thompson,     "  "  died  of  disease.. 

James  Cond,       Volunteer  of  1862,       missing  in  action. 

Barney  Gease,  "  " 

Joel  D.  Herron,          "  " 

George  A.  Houston,  "  " 

Robert  E,  Jones,         « 

John  Fulton,  "  " 

JDennis  Chase,  Substitute^  died  of  disease. 

Christian  Desinger,     u 

George  Glenn,  " 


B  Company  was  raised  in  Putnam  and  vicinity,  by  Z. 
M.  Chandler  and  G.  F.  Wiles,  of  Putnam,  Ohio,  and  or 
ganized  December  12th,  1861.  A  braver  and  better  fight 
ing  company  of  men  never  left  the  State.  Many  were 
strong  farmers  and  mechanics,  who  were  deeply  in 
earnest  in  loving  their  wives  and  children,  fine  farms  and 
pleasant  homes — left  them  in  obedience  to  their  country's 
call  for  defenders  against  traitors,  who  had  kindled  the 
flames  of  civil  war  and  threatened  the  very  life  of  the 
nation. 

Z.  M.  Chandler  was  appointed  Captain,  Greenbury  F. 
"Wiles  First  Lieutenant,  and  Gilbert  D.  Munson  Second 
Lieutenant. 

Captain  Chandler  was  then  Superintendent  of  the  Public 
Schools  of  Putnam,  which  position  he  resigned,  believing 
it  his  duty  to  take  the  field  of  active  operations  in 
behalf  of  his  country ;  but  his  health  soon  gave  away  to 
the  miasma  and  debilitating  heat  of  the  Southern  climate. 
lie  was  appointed  Major  of  the  regiment,  and  afterward 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  after  leading  the  regiment  on  the 
-Mississippi  Campaign,  and  thence  to  Vicksburg,  was 
compelled  to  resign  after  crossing  the  Mississippi  river,  his 
constitution  much  broken  and  health  altogether  too  feeble 
to  enter  further  upon  that  terrible  campaign. 

Lieutenant  Wiles,  soon  after  leaving  the  State,  was 
appointed  Captain  of  company  C.  lie  was  a  citizen  of 
Putnam,  and  seemed  to  have  a  more  than  ordinary  tact  in 
the  government  and  successful  management  of  men.  He 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.    V.   I.  33 

proved  to  be  one  of  the  best  disciplinarians  in  the  array. 
lie  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  took  com 
mand  of  the  regiment  on  the  battle-field  of  Champion 
Hills.  Under  his  command  the  regiment  became  the  best 
drilled  in  the  Corps,  and  without  doubt  one  of  the  best  in 
tie  Western  army.  At  Atlanta  he  was  appointed  Colonel 
of  the  regiment,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  time  during 
the  siege  of  Atlanta  and  afterwards,  was  In  command  of 
the  Second  Brigade.  After  the  South  Carolina  campaign, 
he  was  appointed  Brevet  Brigadier-General  in  honor  of 
his  own  efficiency  as  well  as  that  of  the  regiment. 

Lieutenant  Munson  was  promoted  Captain  of  Company 
B,  September  7th,  1862  ;  George  H.  Porter  to  First  Lieu 
tenant  and  Joseph  R.  Miller  to  Second  Lieutenant.  Capt. 
Munson  was  afterwards  detailed  on  General  Leggett's 
staff;  also  Lieutenant  Porter.  The  former  was  promoted 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  the  latter  Captain,  and  assigned 
to  company  K. 

Lieutenant  Miller  resigned  his  commission  in  the  Au 
tumn  of  1864,  after  having  commanded  his  company 
through  the  entire  campaign  of  Atlanta.  He  was  an 
efficient  officer,  a  soldier  and  a  gentleman. 

LTnder  the  new  organization  of  the  regiment,  Lieut. 
A.  Adair  was  promoted  to  Captain,  April  22d,  1865,  and 
assigned  to  company  B ;  James  H.  Gander  to  First  Lieu 
tenant  and  Amos  Xorman  to  Second  Lieutenant. 

These  three  officers,  promoted  and  assigned  to  this  com 
pany,  are  young  men  who  enlisted  in  the  regiment  in  1861, 
and  have  passed  through  nearly  four  years  of  the  most 
terrible  rebellion  and  bloody  conflicts.  They  have  survived 
it  all  and  came  out  promoted  for  gallant  conduct,  and  well 
have  they  earned  it ;  nobly  have  they  sustained  themselves, 
and  done  honor  to  their  friends. 

Captain  A.  Adair  ia  a  young  man  of  fine  appearance, 
correct  habits  and  quiet  demeanor. 

Lieutenant  J.  H.  Gander  is  rather  diminutive  in  size,  but 
lias  a  large  soul.  He  possesses  great  energy  of  character, 
3 


84  HISTORY  OF  THE 

as  most  little  men  do,  would  fight  in  a  "  minitc "  unless 
some  person  would  hold  him,  which  would  not  be  difficult 
for  a  large  man  to  do.  He  is  an  efficient  officer,  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  his  men,  genial,  affable  and 
pleasant  in  his  manners,  and  disposed  to  take  things  as 
good  naturedly  as  circumstances  will  permit. 

Amos  Norman,  Second  Lieutenant,  is  a  young  man 
known  more  by  what  he  does  than  what  he  promises  to  do. 
Portly  in  appearance,  strong  will  and  full  of  energy,  and 
ambitious  to  discharge  his  duty  faithfully.  A  man  bound 
to  grapple  fearlessly  with  difficulties,  and  finally  succeed. 
He. is  a  very  efficient  officer. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Geo.  "W.  Porter,  3.  Andrew  McDaniel, 

2.  Adolphus  AY.  Search,          4.  Joseph  R.  Miller, 

5.  Thomas  S.  Armstrong. 
CORPORALS. 

1.  David  Sherrard,  jr.,  5.  Henry  S.  Axline, 

2.  James  M.  Thompson,          6.  Lewis  AY.  Rusk, 

8.  Fenton  Bagley,  7.  Benjamin  F.  Scott, 

4.  James  H.  Gander,  8.  Harrison  Yarner. 

diaries  H.  Bunker,  Musician. Corydon  R.  AYiles,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin,  Randolph  C.  Beardslee,  George  AY. 

Bentley,  William  Cooper,  George. W. 

Besser,  AY.  H.  C  order,  Lewis 

Baugus,  Henry  C.  Cherry,  John 

Bugh,  David  Carson,  James  AY. 

Besser,  AYilliam  Crooks,  Henry 

Brelsford,  Amos  II.  Clugston,  Thomas 

Barrell,  Charles  Curtis,  Enoch 

Laird,  John  T.  Crouse,  James  P. 

Black,  Samuel  M.  Crosby,  Nelson  D. 

Bell,  Clements  Cooper,  Asaph 

Buker,  Joseph  II.  Dutro,  Samuel  II. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.  V.   L 


Dickson,  Andrew 
Dilts,  Robert  S. 
Drone,  Henry 
Drumm,  Isaac 
Dickson,  Samuel 
Edwards,  David 
Fountain,  William 
Francis,  Andrew 
Fulkerson,  Wm. 
Gander,  John  T. 
Gardner,  Ilamline 
Goulding,  Samuel  !N". 
Hart,  Christopher 
Henderson,  James 
Home,  Daniel,  jr. 
Innis,  William 
Jones,  John  E. 
Jones,  Henry  C. 
Knight,  Monroe 
Knight,  Charles 
Kincade,  Anthony 
Lewis,  Samuel 
Loy,  George  W. 
Larrison,  David 
Mclick,  James  P. 
Myers,  James  II. 
Myers,  Lewis  E. 


Miller,  Branson  S. 
Miller,  William  F. 
Moore,  John  T. 
Mills,  Andrew  J. 
Moore,  Lewis 
Gorman,  Amos 
Osmond,  Joseph 
Powell,  James  M. 
Roberts,  Charles 
Roberts,  Leroy  A. 
Stoneburner,  Elijah 
Spring,  John  W. 
Suttles,  Benjamin 
Simpson,  James 
Shiplett,  William 
Skinen,  John 
Sniff,  Alva  B. 
Sims,  John  R. 
Skinen,  Owen 
Varncr,  Francis  M. 
Varner,  John  M. 
White,  Robert  J. 
Wilson,  Solomon 
AYeaver,  William  II. 
White,  William  J. 
Weaver,  John 
Younger,  Jacob 


Younger,  William  C. 

Of  the  above  the  following  have  been  killed  in  action 
John  T.  Moore,  near  Columbia,  S.  C. 
Lewis  Moore,  Canton,  Miss. 
John  Skinen,         "  " 

Benjamin  F.  Scott,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Asaph  Cooper,  Champion  Hills,  Miss. 

The  following  have  died  of  disease  and  wounds: 
Randolph  C.  Austin,  Vicksburg,  Miss. 
Jeremiah  Norris,  Memphis,  Tenn. 
William  J.  Korris,  Vicksburg,  Miss. 


36  HISTORY   OF  THE 

Harrison  Varner,  Clinton,  Miss. 

John  Weaver,  Shiloh,  Tenn. 

Cory  don  11.  Wiles,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

James  K".  Thompson,  Shiloli,  Tenn. 

Charles  W.  Barrell,  hospital,  Cincinnati,  0. 

John  T.  Baircl,  Memphis,  Tenn. 

Andrew  Dickson,  Savannah,  Tenn. 

Samuel  Dickson,  Shiloh,  Tenn. 

Samuel  H.  Dutro,  Stony  Point,  Tenn. 

Andrew  Francis,  Stony  Point,  Tenn. 

Hamlin  Gardner,  Yicksbnrg,  Miss. 

James  Henderson,         "  " 

Daniel  Home,  jr.,  Marietta,  Ga.,  of  wounds. 

John  E.  Jones,  hospital,  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

Anthony  Yineader,  Shiloli,  Tenn. 

Samuel  Lewis,  Shiloli,  Tenn. 

George  W.  Loy,  Raymond,  Miss. 

James  P.  Melick,  Savannah,  Tenn. 

Joseph  Osmond,  Putnam,  Ohio. 

Leroy  A.  Roberts,  Shiloli,  Tenn. 

David  Sherrard,  hospital,  Mound  City,  111. 

Alva  B.  Sniff,  Vickshurg,  Miss. 

January  5th,  1864,  the  following  named  men  re-enlisted 
as  veteran  volunteers  for  three  years  more  : 
Sergeant  George  W.  Beardslee. 
Corporal  Henry  C.  Beaugus. 
Charles  II.  Bunker. 

George  Bash,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Sergeant  Lewis  Corder. 
kelson  D.  Crosby. 
John  Cherry. 
Clements  BelL 
Henry  Drone. 
Robert  S.  Dilts. 
1  Sergeant  William  Fulkerson. 

James  H.  Gander,  promoted  to  Lieutenant  afterwards* 
Daniel  Home. 


SEVE  NTT-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.  V.  I.  37 

Monroe  Knight. 

James  II.  Myrcs. 

Corporal  Andrew  J.  Mills. 

John  T.  Moore. 

Lewis  Moore. 

Amos  Gorman,  promoted  to  Lieutenant  afterwards. 

Charles  Roberts. 

Elijah  Stoneburner. 

John  Skinnen. 

John  M.  Varner. 

Sergeant  Robert  W.  White. 

Corporal  William  X.  Weaver. 

Corporal  Solomon  Wilson. 

Cory  don  E.  Wiles. 

Corporal  John  "W.  Spring. 

Since  the  original  organization  of  the  company  the  fol 
lowing  volunteers,  substitutes  and  drafted  men  have  been 
added  : 

VOLUNTEER   RECRUITS. 

Joseph  Ansel,  Sutter  D.  Morgan, 

Samuel  Austin,  William  II.  McClanalmn, 

David  Baird,  Xathaniel  Mitchell, 

Felix  W.  Baird,  George  II.  Mathews, 

Charles  P.  Bowers,  William  J.  Morris, 

Oliver  J.  Boyer,  Jeremiah  Morris, 

John  K.  Brown,  Lewis  C.  Powell, 

Clements  Conn,  George  Perry, 

Theodore  E.  Dick,  Leonard  Roddick, 

George  Ilickel,  Thomas  W.  Ritchie, 

Thomas  Flemming,  George  Richardson, 

Obed  R.  Farnsworth,  Gershom  Rose, 

Bernard  Gesliu-e,  James  G.  Simins, 

John  Gochenower,  Peter  J.  Snyder, 

James  Gochenower,  Albert  Stigler, 

Thomis  J.  Ilowell,  Jesse  Smitley, 

Jose})h  Jenkins,  Isaac  Spring, 

Warren  McClean,  Simeon  C.  Search, 
Ja»?ob  Wilson. 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


Daniel  F.  Hitter, 
Nicholas  Crappt, 
Ilorner  Gerheads, 
Lafayette  Lewis, 

Stephen  Dickson, 
James  Gish, 
Harrison  Grovenor, 
Peter  Groh, 
Jacob  llarman, 
Benjamin  Hamer, 
John  Karen, 
Samuel  S.  Lewis, 
Joseph  Larne, 
Ephraim  Miller, 
Henry  Miller, 
Robert  Masters, 
Henry  MoNeal, 
David  Martin, 
Thomas  Milligan, 


SUBSTITUTES. 

John  Mullett, 
Albert  Reager, 
Henry  Seizmiller, 
James  Sparrowgrove. 

DRAFTED. 

John  Plummer, 
Daniel  Pense, 
Hiram  Raney, 
William  Roush, 
Jackson  Simpkins, 
Stephen  Stevenson, 
Lewis  Sanders, 
James  Sanders, 
Peter  Smithsowles, 
John  "W.  Stevenson, 
Paul  Stippich, 
Richard  Wills, 
Jacob  Wangh, 
William  G.  Waltman, 


ISTathan  Yarington, 
Henry  Yaney. 

The  following  have  died  of  disease  and  been  killed  in 
action : 

Felix  W.  Baird,  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

John  Gochenower,  "  " 

James  H.  Gochenower,  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga, 

George  II.  Mathews,          "  " 

George  Richardson,  "  " 

Abel  R.  Farnsworth,  died  of  disease. 

John  K  Brown,  "  u         Columbus,  0, 

Joseph  Jenkins,  "  "         Galesville,  Ala. 

Paul  Stippich,  "  "        Newborn,  K  C. 

Alva  Day,  deserted  at  Shiloh,  Tenn. 

David  Larrison,  deserted  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 

William  Innis,        "  "  " 

Sergeant  Lewis  W.  Rusk5  deserted  at  Memphis,  Tenn. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMEXT   0.   V.   V.   I.  39 

All  names  not  in  the  foregoing  list  of  disposition,  are 
accounted  for  by  being  discharged  for  disability,  contracted 
by  disease  or  wounds  in  the  service. 

DISCHAKGED. 

Henry  S.  Axline,  Thomas  Clugstone, 

Thomas  S.  Armstrong,  Silas  Caton, 

Fentou  Bagley,  Isaac  Drumm, 

"William  Bentley,  David  Edmunds, 

"William  Besser,  Samuel  Goulding, 

William  II.  Besser,  Christopher  J.  Hart, 

David  Bugh,  Andrew  J.  Mills,  (prisoner,) 

Samuel  Black,  John  W.  Spring,         " 
Clements  Bell,  (prisoner,)        Benjamin  Suttles, 

Joseph  Baker,  James  Simpson, 

George  Bash,  William  Shiplett, 

George  Cooper,  Francis  !N".  Varner, 

James  W.  Carson,  William  J.  White, 

Henry  Crooks,  Jacob  Younger. 

The  following  letter  from  General  Wiles,  I  take  the 
privilege  of  inserting  here  in  reference  to  this  company  : 

PUTXAM,  OHIO,  July  23d,  1865. 

"  On  the  26th  day  of  October,  1861, 1  received  a  commis 
sion  as  Second  Lieutenant  to  recruit  for  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  at  once  traveled 
through  the  county  north  and  west  of  Zanesville,  to  confer 
with  my  numerous  acquaintances  about  the  prospect  of  raising 
recruits,  to  engage  in  putting  down  this  rebellion.  They  very 
frankly  told  me  they  did  not  believe  I  could  get  any  men,  for 
tie  reason  that  all  who  were  going  into  the  service,  had 
already  gone.  I  was  of  a  different  opinion,  and  at  once  com 
menced  a  series  of  meetings  at  Uiiiontown,  Xewtonville, 
and  at  different  schoolhouses  in  the  county,  and  for  a  time 
without  success  ;  but  the  people  after  a  time  became  inter 
ested  in  the  Union  cause,  (for  constantly  holding  meetings 
awakened  them  up  to  do  their  duty)  and  where  all  was 
coldness  and  apathy,  there  was  soon  a  warm,  patriotic 


40  HISTORY    OF  THE 

feeling,  and,  in  connection  with  Z.  M.  Chandler,  succeeded 
in  a  short  time  in  raising  a  company  of  men. 

The  number  of  men  enlisted  by  us  amounted  to  one  hun 
dred  and  ten,  and  after  transferring  some  to  Captain  Wallar, 
and  some  to  Captain  Gebhart,  the  remainder,  about  one  hun 
dred,  was  organized  as  Co.  "  B,"  about  the  first  of  January, 
1862,  with  the  following  commissioned  officers:  Z.  M. 
Chandler,  Captain  ;  G.  F.  Wiles,  First  Lieutenant ;  G,  D, 
Munson,  Second  Lieutenant.  Afterward,  Captain  Chandler 
attained  the  rank  of  Colonel ;  and  G.  F.  Wiles,  Brevet 
Brigadier-General ;  and  G.  D.  Munson,  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel.  G.  F.  Wiles  and  G.  D.  Munson  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  were  mustered  out  with  their  command 
in  Columbus,  Ohio,  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1865. 

I  served  with  Company  "B"  until  after  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  when  I  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Company 
"  C,"  April  16th,  and  soon  after  I  received  a,  commission 
as  Captain,  and  was  continued  in  command  of  said  com* 
pany  until  the  16th  day  of  May,  1863,  when  I  received  a 
commission  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  immediately  took 
command  of  the  regiment.  The  command  of  the  company 
then  devolved  on  Lieutenant  Alex.  Scales,  of  Zanesville, 

In  the  month  of  December,  1862,  I,  with  Company  "  C," 
was  detached  from  the  regiment  to  organize  a  Pioneer  Corps 
and  Pontoon  Train.  I  believe  this  was  the  first  Pioneer 
Corps  organized  in  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  In  that 
capacity  the  company  served  with  distinction,  making  roads 
and  constructing  bridges,  and  destroying  bridges  and  forti 
fications.  They  destroyed  the  heavy  fortifications  on  the 
Tallallatchie,  and  also  the  bridges  at  that  point.  Better- 
working  men  were  not  in  the  army.  The  company  con 
tinued  in  the  Pioneer  Corps  until  after  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  and  also  on  the  Meridian  Expedition.  During  the- 
siege  of  Vicksburg  the  company  was  very  efficient,  and  no 
like  number  of  men  conduced  more  to  the  downfall  of  that 
stronghold  than  did  Company  "  C."  The  men  were  from 
Zanesville  and  vicinity,  and  were  a  very  robust  set  of 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  41 

and  very  patriotic.  At  the  mustering  out  of  the  command, 
and  for  a  considerable  time  before,  they  were  commanded 
by  Captain  John  Mills,  of  Columbiana  County.  In  addi 
tion  to  their  pioneering  qualities,  they  were  a  splendid 
fighting  company." 


c. 

Tliis  company  was  raised  in  Zanesville  and  vicinity,  and 
organized  at  Camp  Gilbert,  December  16th,  1862.  Samuel 
W.  Spencer  was  commissioned  Captain;  William  Godfrey, 
First  Lieutenant ;  Thomas  P.  Ross,  Second  Lieutenant. 

After  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  Tenn.,  while  the  regi 
ment  was  encamped  at  Dover,  Captain  Spencer,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  went  home,  and  not  regaining  his  health 
sufficiently  to  return,  resigned  with  less  than  a  brilliant 
military  career.  Lieutenant  Godfrey  resigned  after  the 
"battle  of  Shiloh.  Lieutenant  Ross,  on  account  of  ill 
health,  resigned  his  commission  at  Crump's  Landing,  Tenn., 
March  16th,  1862. 

Lieutenant  G.  F.  Wiles  was  appointed  Captain  and 
assigned  to  Company  "  C"  April  16th,  1862.  Asa  C.  Cas- 
sidy  was  appointed  First  Lieutenant,  and  Alex.  Scales  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant. 

Captain  Wiles,  with  his  company,  was  detached  from  the 
regiment  and  assigned  to  duty  as  Pioneers  for  the  Third 
Division.  The  labor  they  performed  in  reconstructing  roads 
for  the  trains,  building  bridges,  and  engineering  and  making 
new  roads,  was  immense.  Captain  "Wiles  has.  the  happy 
attainment  of  getting  more  work  out  of  men  than  any  other 
man  we  have  ever  known  in  the  army.  Men  who  work 
nowhere,  would  work  well  and  faithfully  under  his  superin 
tendence.  He  therefore  became  well  known  throughout  the 
Corps  as  an  officer  of  more  than  ordinary  efficiency. 

After  his  promotion  to  the  command  of  the  regiment, 
Lieutenant  Cassidy  soon  resigned,  being  dissatisfied  with  his 
assignment  to  "  K  "fc company.  Lieutenant  Alex.  Scales  was 
then  promoted  to  Captain  of  the  company  —  which  still 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I.  43 

remained  on  duty  with  the  Pioneer  Corps  until  nearly  the 
time  the  regiment  veteranized,  when  it  returned  to  the 
regiment  for  duty,  and  entered  the  veteran  organization. 
Captain  Scales  resigned,  and  Lieutenant  J.  T.  Story,  of  "  F  " 
company,  temporarily  commanded  the  company  for  eight 
months.  During  his  administration  the  company  was  seve 
ral  times  highly  complimented  by  prominent  officers  for 
presenting  such  a  neat  and  soldierly  appearance  on  review 
and  dress-parade ;  and  at  a  Sunday  morning  inspection 
Colonel  Wiles  presented  one  member  of  the  company  with 
a  five-dollar  "  greenback,"  for  having  the  prettiest  gun  and 
accoutrements  in  the  army. 

Lieutenant  John  13.  Mills  was  promoted  to  Captain  while 
home  on  veteran  furlough,  and  assigned  to  Company  "  C," 
and'at  Cairo,  111.,  May  10th,  1864,  relieved  Lieutenant  Story 
of  the  command  of  the  company. 

Albert  G.  Gault  was  commissioned  a  Lieutenant  and 
assigned  to  Company  "  C,"  having  recruited  for  the  regi 
ment  a  sufficient  number  of  men,  in  the  fall  of  1862,  to 
entitle  him  to  the  position.  Lieutenant  Gault,  on  account 
of  ill  health,  was  compelled  to  resign  after  the  fall  of 
Atlanta.  lie  then  went  home,  soon  recruited  his  health, 
and  took  to  himself  a  wife,  which  all  wise  and  patriotic 
young  men  should  do. 

Captain  J.  B.  Mills  acted  Major  of  the  regiment  on  the 
campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  and  was  commissioned  as 
such,  but  it  not  being  his  place  by  regular  promotion  by 
rank,  he  refused  to  muster,  and  returned  to  the  command  of 
his  company,  which  was  an  exhibition  of  generosity  not 
very  common  in  military  life. 

Charles  C.  Wiles  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and 
assigned  to  Company  "  C,"  and  James  II.  Echelberry  to 
Second  Lieutenant:  both  young  men  of  integrity  and 
promise. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization : 


44 


HISTORY  OF  THE 


SERGEANTS. 

1.  Asa  C.  Cassidy,  3.  Eobert  T.  kelson, 

2.  James  A.  Brown,  4.  Alexander  Scales, 

5.  Christopher  Stockdale. 


1.  William  Ross, 

2.  Samuel  Bateman, 
3. 


CORPORALS. 

5.  William  L.  Gillogly, 

6.  Joseph  Starrott, 

7.  David  Pierce, 

8.  George  M.  Alter. 


4.  Isaac  F.  Lee, 
James  Bellinger,  Musician,      Darius  T.  S.  Elliott,  Musician, 
William  M.  Laughlin,  Wagoner. 
PRIVATES. 


Baker,  William  F. 
Barrett,  Edward 
Bethel,  Russel 
Baker,  Francis  R. 
Bagley,  Lewis 
Breunen,  James 
Baker,  James  A. 
Boylcn,  Alpheus  B. 
Bryant,  David  F. 
Bateman,  Francis 
Cottonbrook,  John 
Culver,  Levi 
Crabtree,  James 
Cassidy,  Edward 
Clark,  Alexander 
Combs,  James 
Culver,  Asa 
Cantwell,  John 
Decker,  i^oah  II. 
Downer,  William 
Donavan,  Daniel  W. 
Downerd,  Joshua 
E  chelberry,  James  II. 
Flowers,  Charles  D. 


Fisher,  James  M. 
Fairchilds,  James  W. 
Frayer,  Robert  W. 
Fredinia,  Dennis 
Figley,  Robert 
Gibaut,  Peter 
George,  John 
Henry,  Michael 
Henry,  Frederick 
Hall,  George  C. 
Hyatt,  Jesse 
Hall,  Joseph 
Hoskins,  Joseph  R. 
Howey,  Thomas  J.  F. 
Haines,  William 
Hines,  James 
James,  Cyrus  E. 
Jorden,  Richard  II. 
Jones,  John  W. 
Lightener,  John 
Langan,  Frederick 
Mercer,  James  A. 
Morton,  James 
Minor,  Thomas  J. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  45 

McGregor,  Alexander  Smith,  James 

Me  Adams,  Robert  Sylvester,  George 

.'McCoy,  Joseph  II.  Swank,  William 

Musselman,  Francis  Swank,  George 

Marshall,  William  P.  Thomas,  Mathias 

rclizaus,  Augustus  F.  Winn,  B.  T. 

Terry,  George  Winn,  J.  M. 

Rilcy,  Aaron  White,  Hanson  L. 

Reed,  S.  J.  Watson,  James  W. 

Sanders,  Benjamin  White,  William  H.  II. 

Simpson,  Joseph  V  Woods,  Samuel 
Tall  a,  Augustus 

Of   the  original  organization    the  following  have  been 
killed  in  action,  or  died  of  wounds  and  disease : 
Asa  F.  Lee,  Corporal,  died. 
Joseph  Starrett,     "  " 

David  Pierce,        "          " 
Asa  Culver,      Private,     "    of  wounds. 
John  Cantwell,       "          "  " 

Charles  D.  Flowers,  Private,  died  of  wounds. 
Robert  Figley,  "  "  « 

John  W.Jones,  "  "  « 

Alex.  McGregor,          "  "        of  disease. 

Joseph  Y.  Simpson,      "  "  " 

Ranson  L.  White,         "  "  « 

Augustus  Yalla,  "  «  « 

James  Morton,  killed  at  Shiloh,  April  7th,  1862. 
William  P.  Marshall,  killed  July  22d,  1864. 

The  following  re-enlisted  as  veterans  January  5th,  1864  : 
Michael  Henry,  Joseph  K.  Hall, 

David  F.  Bryant,  Francis  Musselman, 

James  Crabtree,  Joseph  R.  Hoskins, 

George  W.  Sylvester,  William  Armstrong, 

Benjamin  H.  Sanders^  Levi  Gould, 

Fred.  Henry,  Charles  nines, 

John  Cottonbrook,  George  C.  Hall, 

Robert  II.  Abbott,  Jt»s<3  Hyatt, 


46  HISTORY  OF  THB 

John  Lightner,  William  II.  White, 

"William  Swank,  Lewis  II.  Bagley, 

Mathias  Thomas, 
William  M.  Laughlin,  killed  at  Atlanta,  July  22d,  1864. 

The  following  named  recruits,  substitutes  and  drafted 
men  have  been  added  to  the  company  since  its  original 
organization : 

RECRUITS. 

Mathew  Griffin,  Marshal  Yetman, 

Samuel  Buckingham,  Simeon  B.  Kenestetter, 

Arthur  Clark,  James  Lopal,.; 

James  C.  Deamcs,  Moses  Miser, 

Michael  Fitzgerald,  James  Bermington, 

William  A.  Fulton,  Jesse  Sutton, 

Israel  D.  Fisher,  Isaac  Smith, 

Melias  Garrell,  G.  W.  Sinsebaugh, 

S.  W.  Hardesty,  Henry  Thompson, 

David  James,  Jacob  G.  West, 

Charles  W.  Lee,  Thomas  Wilson, 

William  T.  McDonald,  Adam  R,  Webb, 

Sylvester  Mercer,  Darius  T.  S.  Elliott, 

Henry  Taylor,  Edward  Fliger, 
George  H.  West, 
John  Crawford,  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 

SUBSTITUTES. 

George  W.  Burwell,  David  Lawrence, 

Robert  Bride,  Elijah  C.  Line, 

[Nicholas  Barrick,j  William  Maple, 

Timothy  Crane,  Alfred  Holland, 

Hudson  Hall,  John  Neat, 

Devin  Copeland,  Josiah  Rewsee, 

Jesse  W.  Divers,  Michael  Reeves, 

William  Gilliland,  Alpha  R.  Stout, 

James  W.  Gilbert,  William  Shillin, 

Bush  Holloway,  Solomon  Shillin, 

Lewis  Jones,  Ferdinand  Wolf. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0,   V.   V.   I. 


47 


DRAFTED  MEX. 


George  Crowell, 
Mortimer  Hyatt, 
Preston  W.  Hubble, 
Thomas  Oldliam, 


Joseph  Barrick, 
Elijah  B.  Smothers, 
Emory  Smothers, 
William  L.  Welch. 


DESERTERS. 


Dennis  Fredinia, 
James  Combs, 
Fd'.vard  C.  Gunnion, 
T.  J.  F.  Howey, 


William  Haines, 
Thomas  J.  Miner, 
James  IS".  McCoy, 
Samuel  J.  Reed, 
George  Alter. 

The  following  have  been  honorably  discharged  on  account 
of  wounds  received  in  action,  or  disease  contracted  while  in 
the  service : 


FOR  DISABILITY. 


Samuel  Bateman, 
John  A.  Launder, 
William  L.  Gillogly, 
Alpheus  P.  Boy  Ian, 
Lcvi  Culver, 
Edward  Cassidy, 
Alexander  Clark, 
William  Downer, 
Daniel  W.  Donovan, 
James  M.  Fisher, 
Robert  W.  Frazer, 
Richard  X.  Gordon, 
Frederick  Langen, 
James  A.  Mercer, 


Augustus  Pelizaus, 
George  Perry, 
James  Smith, 
George  Swank, 
James  W.  Watson, 
Samuel  Woods, 
James  M.  Winn, 
Richard  T.  Winn, 
Richard  J.  Russell, 
John  George, 
David  Kelley, 
James  D.  Willis, 
James  Bellinger, 
Peter  Gibaut. 


Robert  McAdams, 

Joshua  Downard,  promoted  to  Lieutenant  in  negro  regiment 

James  Brennan,  Lieutenant,  dishonorably  mustered  out. 

This  company  has  made  a  good  record,  and  done  much 
hard  labor  and  good  fighting.  It  has,  therefore,  suffered 
severely,  and  lost  some  noble  good  men.  The  first  man  to 


48  HISTORY   OF   THE 

fall  in  battle  was  from  this  company.  James  Morton,  of 
Zanesville,  who  was  struck  by  a  shell  and  died  in  a  few 
minutes.  The  present  officers  of  the  company  are  young 
men  promoted  for  gallant  conduct. 


COMPANY  D. 

This  company  was  raised  in  Muskingum  and  Morgan 
(Bounties,  and  organized  December  21st,  1861,  in  Camp  Gil 
bert,  Zanesville,  Ohio.  E.  Hillis  T alley  was  commissioned 
Captain;  Benjamin  A.  Blaiuly,  First  lieutenant ;  William 
8.  llarlan,  Second  Lieutenant. 

These  being  men  of  influence,  and  sustaining  a  high  rep 
utation  in  the  community  in  which  they  lived,  in  a  short 
time  raised  a  company  of  the  best  men  in  their  respective 
neighborhoods. 

Captain  Talley  was  taken  sick  while  the  regiment  was  at 
Crump's  Landing.  lie  was  immediately  removed  to  the 
hospital  at  Savannah,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  April  1st,  1862. 
He  was  the  first  officer  of  the  regiment  to  fall  a  sacrifice  to 
his  country ;  being  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  the  only 
son  of  his  parents,  and  loved  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew 
him,  caused  his  death  to  be  deeply  felt  and  regretted.  About 
this  time  Lieutenant  Blandy  resigned,  and  Lieutenant  liar- 
Ian  was  promoted  to  Captain.  Israel  C.  Robinson,  of  Com 
pany"  A  "was  promoted  to  a  Lieutenant  and  assigned  to 
this  Company.  Captain  Ilarlairs  health,  through  hardships 
and  exposure  gave  way,  and  after  trying  the  bracing  climate 
of  the  north  a  few  weeks,  and  the  best  surgeon's  skill,  he 
was  necessitated  to  resign  his  commission,  and  quit  the  ser 
vice  in  February,  1863.  Lieutenant  Robinson  was  then 
promoted  to  Captain,  and  James  C.  Harris  to  a  Lieutenantcy 

Captain  Robinson  was  promoted  to  Major  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  afterward  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  but  did  not  mus 
ter   on   this    last   commission^   because  of    irregularity   in 
its  issue. 
4 


50  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Lieutenant  Harris  was  mustered  out  at  Savannah,  by  rea 
son  of  expiration  of  term  of  service,  the  last  of  December, 
1864.  He  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  and  faithful  officer,  ad 
mired  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Lieutenant  Andrew  MeDaniel  was  promoted  to  Captain, 
and  assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  "D;"  John  11. 
Edgar,  of  Company  "A,"  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant, 
and  assigned  to  this  company.  Milton  F.  Ward  was 
promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  in  some  company.  Under 
these  officers  the  company  was  mustered  out  of  service  July 
14th,  1865. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization  : 

SERGEAXTS. 

1.  James  C.  Harris,  3.  Win.  G.  B.  McCunc, 

2.  Simon  P.  Joy,  4.  David  F.  Sullivan, 

5.  Bishop  D.  Stall. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  James  Sears,  5.  William  II.  Sullivan , 

(2.  James  M.  Mason,  6.  Andrew  II.  Wallace, 

3.  Henry  C.  Lanius,  7.  Enoch  Ilarlan, 

4.  Milton  F.  Ward,  8.  James  M.  Dutro. 
Horatio  White,  2d  Musician,  George  F.  Darling,  Wagonei 

PRIVATES. 

Arter,  Abel  Finney,  James 

Blackson,  John  A.  Fox,  John  W. 

Beatty,  Bartly  France,  Thomas  B. 

Berry,  Michael  Fox,  W.  Thomas 

Crawford,  Henry  Frazier,  William  J. 

Conn,  Levi  C.  Gay,  Robert  E. 

Camp,  James  Gay,  II.  II. 

Coss,  Peter  Gillespie,  Daniel 

Clark,  George  W.  Gibeaut,  Charles  J. 

Dempster,  Albert  Gibeaut,  Peter 

Dutro,  Thomas  W,  Huffman,  William  F. 

Job*  Haines,  Davis 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I. 


51 


Hall,  Thomas  J. 
Harlan,  Thomas  J. 
Hewitt,  Milton 
Hamilton,  John 
Hunt,  Albert 
Huffman,  Samuel 
Ho  well,  Moses 
Hall,  George  W. 
Hall,  Enos  T.,  sr., 
Huftbrd,  John 
Ilubbell,  Joseph 
Hawkins,  McFiren 
Jewett,  Nathan 
Jewett,  Daniel 
Joy,  Harrison  W". 
Jones,  Benia 
Kenney,  Charles 
Kenney,  William  "W". 
Kenney,  George  W. 
Kenney,  John 
Leach,  Charles 
Lee,  Samuel 
Lowe,  Frank 
MeLanghlin,  James 


McCune,  John 
McGuire,  Francis 
Mitchel,  David 
Mason,  Charles  B. 
McCallister,  Hugh 
McCallister,  W.  J. 
Osborn,  Frederick 
Pake,  William 
Peyton,  John  Q.  A. 
Powell,  John 
Quigley,  George  W. 
Quigly,  James  F. 
Reed,  Wesley 
Richardson,  Levi  P. 
Sigars,  Philip 
Stotts,  Nathan 
Stotts,  Joseph  F. 
Smith,  George  B. 
Squires,  George 
Scott,  George 
Turner,  Leaven 
Vandenbark,  George  P. 
Wood,  Solomon 
Warne,  Amaziah 


The  following  have  died  of  wounds  and  disease  : 
William  G.  B.  McCune,  Sergeant. 
George  F.  Darling,  at  Bolivar,  Tenn. 

James  Finney,  of  wounds  received  at  Champion  Hills,  Miss. 
William  F.  Huffman,  Savannah,  Ga. 
Davis  Ilaines,  Bolivar,  Tenn. 
David  Gillespie,  Milton  Hewett, 

Albert  Hunt,  Stony  Point,  Tenn. 
Charles  S.  Kenney,  Jackson,  Tenn. 
William  Kenney,  Savannah,  Tenn. 
McFiren  Hawkins,  Frank  Law. 

Charles  B.  Mason,  wounded  at  Raymond,  Miss. 
Fred.  Miller,  Memphis,  Tenn. 


52 


HISTORY   OP  THE 


Fred  Osborn,  Memphis,  Term. 

William  A.  Pake,  George  B.  Smith, 

George  Squires. 

James  Austin,  killed  at  Champion  Hills. 

The  following* have  been  discharged,  honorably: 
Enoch  Harlan,  at  Shiloh,  Tenn. 
James  Dutro,  Crump's  Landing,  Tenn. 
Bartly  Baity. 

John  A.  Blackson,  Memphis,  Tenn. 
Peter.  Coss.  Levi  Conn. 

Albert  Dempster,  Crump's  Landing,  Tenn. 
Thomas  Dutro,  "  "  « 

Albert  J.  Farnurn,       "  "  " 

John  Hamilton,  "  " 

Thomas  France,          "  "  « 

Peter  Gibeaut,  "  "  " 

Peter  Gibeaut,  jr.,       "  "  « 

John  Huffard, 


Joseph  Hubb, 
Enos  T.  Hall, 
Harrison  Joy, 
Daniel  Jewett, 
George  "W.  Kenncy, 
Charles  Leach, 
John  Kenney, 
Samuel  Lee, 
John  Q.  A.  Peyton, 
George  W.  Quigley, 
James  F.  Quigley, 
Wesley  Reed, 


Levi  P.  Richardson, 
Philip  Sigars, 
Horatio  White, 
Solomon  Wood, 
Herriott  Warnc, 
Caleb  H.  Hall, 
John  Heath, 
Eli  Scott, 

Charles  Woodburn, 
William  Neighbors, 
Joseph  D.  Gardner, 
John  McConaughy, 


Finley  Woodburn, 
Francis  Maguire. 

The   following  named  recruits,  substitutes  and  drafted 
men  have  been  added  to  the  company: 
James  Austin,  James  Davis, 

John  Bird,  William  Echelberry, 

Lewis  Collins,  Allen  M.  Frazier, 

Lemuel  Dover,  William  Harlan, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.  I,  53 

Benjamin  Harlan,  Oliver  Perry, 

William  R.  Jackson,  Moses  Abbott, 

Joseph  E.  Peyton,  Joshua  D.  Smith,  (prisoner,) 

Joseph  F.  Pierce,  wounded  at  Champion  Hills. 

Samuel  F.  Woodburn,  Nathaniel  White,  (discharged) 

William  M.  White,  (died,)      John  H.  Young, 

Manley  II.  Crumbaker,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

George  W.  McCurdy,  Jerome  Mathews, 

Robert  Cunningham,  John  Newman, 

Erastus  Chilcoat,  Thomas  Parsons, 

Zenis  Dowell,  Alfred  Sigars, 

Jeremiah  Gardner,  (disch'ged) Henry  Tipple, 

Joseph  Talbott,  wounded  at  Atlanta. 

Jacob  Withers,  (died,)  Oliver  B.  Crumbaker, 

Francis  Godfrey,  died  of  wounds — Atlanta. 

Nicholas  Hoosan,  Torrence  Peyton,  (died,) 

Davis  Echeiberry,  (died,)         Smith  V.  D.  Ho  well, 

Hamilton  Wallace,  Daniel  Stahl, 

William  A.  McConaughy,  wounded  at  Atlanta. 

James  C.  Stewart,  Henry  S.  Chambers, 

Samuel  P,  Campbell,  killed  in  battle. 

Isaac  G.  Keff,  Charles  W.  Clark, 

Lafayette  Davis,  Brice  S.  Taylor, 

Thomas  R,  Stevenson,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 

Thomas  Smith,  (died,)  James  D.  Kinney, 

Joseph  W.  Frazier,  Harrison  Echeiberry. 

DRAFTED. 

Jefferson  Blazier,  Lewellen  Echeiberry, 

David  Campbell,  Richard  P.  McGee,  (disch'ged) 

Daniel  Miller,  wounded  at  Champion  Hills. 

James  H.  Tom,  William  Hyde, 

James  M.  Cornelius,  Lewis  Huffman, 

Samuel  Harper,  James  Fulton, 

David  K  Bryan,  George  Mewhirter, 

Frederick  Campbell,  Reuben  Cromer, 

John  Field,  William  Humphreys, 

Alfred  Davidson,  Joseph  Foreman, 


54  HISTORY   OF  THE 

David  M.  "Wilson,  "William  Jones, 

Daniel  Brian,  Andrew  Johnson, 

Jesse  "Waterberry,  (died.) 

SUBSTITtJTES.  . 

Alex.  Fairchilds,  Simeon  S.  Carrol, 

Cyrus  Harman,  Clark  To!  and, 

Joseph  Hamel,  Henry  Simmons, 

Jacob  Thice,  "William  Artherton. 

The  following"  re-enlisted  as  veteran  volunteers : 
James  A.  Seares,  Sergeant,    David  Sullivan,  Sergeant, 
Bishop  D.  Stahl,  "  John  "W.  Bitler,  Corporal, 

James  McLaughlin,    "  Henry  C.  Lanius,         " 

Amaziah  "Warne,         "  William  J.  Frazier,    " 

Andrew  "Wallace,  killed  bearing  regimental  colors  in  battle 

before  Atlanta. 

Abel  Arter,  Charles  J.  Gibeatit, 

Thomas  J.  Harlan,  James  Camp, 

Bush  Clark,  Robert  E.  Gay, 

George  B.  Vanderbark,  Henry  II.  Gay, 

Thomas  J.  Hall,  taken  prisoner  at  Atlanta. 
Thomas  Huffman,  "  " 

Moses  Howell,  (deserted,)       Hugh  McCallister, 
George  Hall,  "William  Pake, 

Nathan  Jewett,  Jolm  Powell, 

John  McCune,  Nathan  Stotts,  (prisoner,) 

David  Mitchell,  'George  "W.  Clark,  (deserted,)1 

John  Eligas  Bulger  Edwards,  deserted. 

This  company  has  sustained  itself  well.  Too  much  can 
not  be  said  of  many  of  its  men.  They  have  done  much  effi 
cient  service,  and  suffered  severely.  Many  noble  young  men 
have  been  left  behind,  never  to  return  to  gladden  the  hearts 
of  their  families  and  friends.  Always  faithful  in  duty ;  it 
never  failed  in  any  position  assigned  it.  Prompt,  efficient 
and  military  in  its  bearing. 

The  Captain,  J.  C.  Robinson,  was  severely  wounded  at 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  when  leading  his  men  in  an  attack  upon 
a  position  held  by  the  enemy. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  55 

The  present  officers  are  men  of  experience  and  who  have 
been  promoted  from  Sergeants  to  their  present  rank.  They 
have  passed  through  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  of  the 
regiment  Captain  McDaniel  was  not  on  the  campaigns  of 
General  Sherman  through  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas. 

The  Lieutenants  are  men  of  worth  and  influence,  and  have 
done  much  honor  to  themselves  and  the  regiment. 


This  Company  was  raised  in  Morgan  county,  by  T.  M. 
Stevenson,  "W.  W.  McCarty  and  C.  M.  Roberts,  and  was  or 
ganized  December  25th,  1861.  T.  M.  Stevenson  was  chosen 
Captain,  W.  W.  McCarty,  First  Lieutenant,  and  C..M.  Rob 
erts,  Second  Lieutenant. 

On  Christmas  day  the  Company  went  to  Camp  Gilbert, 
with  ninety-four  as  strong,  brave  and  reliable  men  as  ever  left 
the  county.  The  great  majority  were  the  best  men  of  the 
county.  Sons  of  religious  parents,  men  of  good  families, 
school  teachers,  mechanics,  farmers,  merchants,  clerks,  were 
gathered  together  to  go  forth  from  their  rich  and  comforta 
ble  homes,  to  defend  those  homes  by  putting  down  treason 
and  rebellion. 

Captain  Stevenson  had  for  a  number  of  years  been  Super 
intendent  of  the  Public  Schools  of  McConnclsville,  and  had 
the  summer  previous  been  licensed  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 
Lieutenant  McCarty  had  long  been  a  resident  of  McConnels- 
ville,  and  had  filled  many  of  the  principal  offices  of  the  coun 
ty,  which  made  him  well  acquainted  in  his  county,  and  gave 
him  an  influence  that  caused  many  worthy  men  to  rally  for 
the  defense  of  the  flag  and  liberty. 

Lieutenant  Roberts  had  been  long  engaged  in  merchandiz 
ing,  which  gave  him  a  facility  and  tact  in  business,  and  be 
ing  a  young  man  of  good  character,  influenced  many  young 
men  to  imitate  his  example  in  laying  down  all  that  was  dear 
upon  his  country's  altar. 

No  company  in  the  regiment  has  done  more  efficient  ser 
vice,  none  suffered  more  upon  the  field  of  battle,  or  from 
hardships  and  exposure.  After  the  battle  before  Atlanta  on 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   Y.   I.  57 

the  22d  of  July,  1864,  where  the  company  and  regiment 
did  such  brilliant  service,  so  as  to  save  the  day,  with  a  very 
heavy  loss  of  killed  and  wounded,  was  detailed  for  duty  at 
Headquarters,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  where  it  remained 
till  mustered  out  of  service. 

At  Memphis,  Captain  T.  M.  Stevenson  resigned  his  com 
mission,  and  was  appointed  Chaplain  of  the  regiment,  Vice 
Chaplain  Todd  resigned.  Lieutenant  McCarty  was  appointed 
Captain,  C.  M.  Roberts,  First  Lieutenant,  and  Sergeant  A. 
W.  Stewart,  Second  Lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Roberts  was 
detailed  for  duty  in  the  Signal  Corps,  in  which  position  ho 
remained  through  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  afterwards 
on  General  Curtis'  staff  in  Missouri  and  Kansas,  until  Janu 
ary,  1865,  when  he  was  appointed  Captain  and  relieved  from 
duty  in  the  Signal  Corps,  returned  to  the  regiment,  and  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  "  F." 

Lieutenant  A.  ~W.  Stewart  was  detailed  as  Aide-de-Camp 
to  General  Leggett,  June  5th,  1864,  which  position  he  filled 
with  ability  and  efficiency  till  the  end  of  the  war. 

Captain  AY.  "\Y.  McCarty  was  taken  prisoner  July  22d? 
1864,  while  in  close  combat  defending  the  colors  and  flag  of 
the  regiment.  Lieutenant  Rhinehart  of  Company  "  G,"  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  company  and  remained  its 
commander  till  the  end  of  the  war.  Sergeant  Alexander  V. 
P.  Hager  of  Company  "  F,"  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant,  and  assigned  to  Company  "  E,"  but  was  detailed  to 
take  charge  of  the  Guards  of  the  Third  Division  Train. 

The  following  named  men  have  been  commissioned  and 
assigned  to  other  companies:  Sergeant  A.  A.  Adair,  to 
Captain ;  Sergeant  Martin  Durant,  to  Second  Lieutenant ; 
Sergeant  John  Kennedy,  to  Second  Lieutenant ;  Sergeant  A. 
AY.  McCarty,  to  First  Lieutenant ;  Sergeant  James  Earich, 
to  Second  Lieutenant.  The  latter  refused  to  be  mustered, 
preferring  to  carry  the  colors  which  he  had  borne  in  so 
many  battles.  He  loved  that  too  dearly  to  give  up  bearing 
it  for  a  Lieutenancy.  He  was  awarded  a  "Medal  of  Honor," 


58 


HISTOHY  OF   THE 


for  distinguished  bravery  in  the  "battle  of  the  22 1  of  July, 
1864. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned  offi 
cers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization  : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Archibald  W.  Stewart,        3.  A.  Stinchcomb, 

2.  Geo.  J.  Chappelear,  4.  Charles  W.  Brown, 

5.  Jasper  S.  Laughlin. 
CORPORALS. 

1.  Robert  F,  Chandler,  5.  Addison  A.  Adair, 

2.  Harrison  Townscnd,  6.  "William  II.  Sopher, 

3.  George  R,  McCarty,  7.  Abram  Wood, 

4.  Jacob  Rush,  8.  Jordan  M.  Maular. 
William  George,  1st  Musician Wm.  A.  Chappelear,  2d  Mus'n 

Daniel  Christman,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


Ammons,  George  Yvr. 
Alexander,  Thompson 
Bailey,  Benjamin  F. 
Bailey,  Christian 
Bailey,  James  W. 
Bailey,  Sylvester 
Bailey,  David 
Beisaker,  David 
Barkhurst,  John 
Boyd,  Cyrus 
Brown,  Joseph  C. 
Brown,  William  S. 
Bunn,  Fletcher  F. 
Bush,  Hiram  H. 
Coulson,  Eli  W. 
Coulson,  Eli  G. 
Christman,  William  D. 
Coffey,  Lewis 
Clawson,  John 
Cramblet,  Samuel  M. 


Davis,  Harvey 
Davis,  John 
Drake,  Henry  II. 
Durant,  Martin 
Earich,  James  R. 
Fuller,  Chester  M. 
Glassford,  Fred 
Grubb,  Rasselas 
Gallion,  George 
Harsh,  Goodliff 
Harris,  George  W. 
Hann,  David  P. 
Hayes,  John 
Heller,  William 
Irwin,  Thomas 
Kirby,  William 
Kirby,  John  R. 
Kennedy,  John 
Keller,  John 
Koon,  Sylvester 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  59 

Lees,  Elislia  Sowers,  Job  P. 

Lanclerman,  William  Shook,  William  J. 

Moore,  James  TV.  Southard,  Samuel  II. 

Maular,  George  TV.  Swope,  Henry 

Monks,  Albert  Stoneburner,  William  TV. 

Murphy,  William  Thompson,  John 

McCarty,  Arthur  TV.  Thompson,  John  TV. 

McElroy,  John  Tompkins,  Benjamin 

Morrison,  Mathias  Turner,  Alonzo 

Porter,  James  D.  Vanhorne,  John  TV. 

Pletcher,  2s"oah  TViley,  Hiram  J. 

Pletcher,  Nicholas  Wiseman,  Caleb  M. 

Pletcher,  John  TV.  Williams,  Luthur  C. 

divers,  Ethelbert  D.  Wade,  William  S. 

Rossell,  John  M.  Walraven,  Charles 

Shutt,  Samuel  II.  Whitaker,  John  II. 

Smith,  John  C.  Woodward,  Samuel  S. 
Sopher,  John  D.                   .     Young,  John 

Of  the  foregoing  the  following  have  been  honorably  dis 
charged  : 

Alex.  Stinchcomb — Sergeant.  George  TV.  Mauler 

G.  J.  Chapelear  "  Luther  C.  Williams., 

Jacob  Bush,  Corporal.  Charles  Walraven, 

Abram  Wood,      "  John  Davis, 

William  Ivearley,  Samuel  II.  Southard, 

Albert  Monks,  James  D.  Porter, 

Ethelbert  D.  Rivers,  Sylvester  Koon, 

John  Clawson,  Eli  G.  Coulson,  M.  I). 

George  TV.  Ammons,  William  S.  Wade, 

Samuel  II.  Shutt,  John  II.  Whitaker, 

Nicholas  Pletcher,  David  P.  Ilann, 

Henry  H.  Drake,  Cyrus  Boyd, 

Louis  Coffee,  William  J.  Chapelear, 

William  Murphy,  Harrison  Drake. 

The  following  have  died  of  wounds  or  disease  contracted 
in  the  service : 

Charles  TV.  Brown,  Sergeant,  Robert  F.  Chandler,  Corporal, 

J.  S.  Laughliu,  Sergeant,  Jordan  M.  Maular, 


60 


HISTORY  OP  THE 


Christian  Bailey,  David  K.  Gallion, 

John  D.  Sopher,  Richard  Riley, 

John  W.  Thompson,  William  S.  Bowers, 

Caleb  Wiseman, 

DESERTERS, 

Henry  Swope,  Corporal,  Thomas  Irwin, 

Geo.  R.  McCarty,  Sergeant,    John  C.  Smith, 
Job  P.  Sowers,  Corporal.         John  Keller. 

The  following  named  men  have  been  added  to  the 
pany  by  enlistments,  assignments  and  substitutes : 


George  M.  Brown, 
Matthias  Bustatter, 
Orlando  F.  Beuton, 
Martin  Copsey, 
William  G.  S.  Coulson, 
George  H.  Coulson, 
Samuel  Cockran, 
John  S.  Carver, 
James  Coen, 
Louis  Coffee, 
John  Davis, 
Christian  Decicus, 
Benjamin  F.  Dozier, 
William  Dozier, 
Morris  Donahue, 
George  Donahue, 
John  Durant, 
George  Durant, 
Elijah  Fergerson, 
John  Fetler, 
Louis  Fishbaugh, 
Samuel  L.  Fryar, 
Albert  Glassford, 
Daniel  Gilpin, 
William  F.  Harsh, 
Robert  T.  Harris, 


Thomas  L.  Harter, 
Jacob  A.  Jones, 
Reason  Jones, 
John  K.  Kirby, 
Abel  Kirby, 
Adam  Keifer, 
George  Lemasters, 
Thomas  Longstreeth, 
Michael  Linder, 
Alvertis  Matson, 
Geoge  Mitchel, 
Thomas  Martin, 
John  McElroy, 
Reuben  Ornar, 
Othello  Price, 
Osborne  Penrose, 
Israel  Pletcher, 
James  Parsons, 
Henry  Q.uin, 
William  F.  Rossar, 
Ira  Rhodes, 
Jonathan  Rainey, 
Marion  Ridgely, 
William  II.  Sutton, 
Jacob  A.  Sowders, 
James  Sloan, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0,    V.    V.    I. 


"William  Smith, 
David  Smith, 
Absolem  Shinnaberry, 
Edward  Stephen, 
Thomas  Taylor, 
Joseph  Tow, 
Nicholas  Swingle, 
Tillman  Stoueburner, 
David  Stemler, 
John  II.  Whitcraft, 
Wilkes  T.  Wallace, 
John  A.  Walters, 
Benjamin  A.  Wyley, 
John  Williams, 
David  Wright, 
Charles  P.  Wood, 
Thomas  M.  Young, 
Peter  Emrick, 
Eobert  T.  Moore, 
John  C.  Bussel, 
George  S.  Coulson, 


Isaac  England, 
Alexander  Earich, 
Martin  Davis, 
Jacob  L.  Matson, 
Seaton  S.  Matson, 
Asa  Massey, 
John  Switzer, 
John  C.  Brown, 
Leonard  J.  Bush, 
Benjamin  Brown, 
Charles  P.  Bowers, 
William  S.  Bowers, 
William  Kennedy, 
James  S.  Brogan, 
John  P.  Els  ton, 
John  W.  Garrett, 
Washington  Sowers, 
Joshua  White, 
Philip  J.  George, 
William  Weller, 
Peter  Hartsell. 


The  following   have   been   killed   in  battle,   or  died  of 
wounds  or  disease : 

William  Sopher,  Sergeant,  killed  at  Atlanta, 

Benjamine  F.  Bailey,  died  of  wounds,  at  Rome,  Georgia. 

J  ames  M.  Bailey,  died  of  disease,  at  Vicksburg. 

Hiram  Bush,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

Joseph  C.  Calvert,  taken  prisoner. 

George  H.  Coulson,  died  of  wound,  at  Marietta,  Georgia. 

Henry  Davis,  taken  prisoner. 

James  R.  Earich,  wounded. 

Samuel  Cramlet,  wounded, 

John  Switzer, 

Rasselas  Grubb,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

Thomas  Harter,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

John  W.  Hays,  wounded. 

James  P.  Martzell,  taken  prisoner. 


62  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Joslma  White,  taken  prisoner. 

George  W.  Harris,  killed  at  Jonesboro,  Georgia. 

Robert  T.  Harris,  died  of  wounds. 

Alonzo  Turner,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

John  R.  Kirby,  died  of  disease. 

Nathaniel  Morrrison, 

Sylvester  Bailey,  died  of  wounds. 

William  II.  Dozier,  died  of  wounds. 

Reason  Jones,  taken  prisoner. 

James  Parsons,  killed  at  Atlanta. 

Jacob  Beisaker,  died  of  wounds. 

Nicholas  Swingle,  missing. 

James  M.  Moore,  sent  to  West  Point  for  efficiency. 

Robert  T.  Moore,  discharged. 

David  Bailey,  discharged. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  those  who  re-enlisted  as 
veterans : 

Fletcher  S.  Bunn,  George  W.  Harris, 

William  S.  Brown,  John  F.  Kennedy, 

Joseph  L.  Brown,  John  R.  Kirby, 

Samuel  M.  Cramlet,  A.  W.  McCarty, 

Daniel  Christman,  Mathias  Morrison, 

William  D.  Christman,  John  W.  Fletcher, 

Eli  W.  Coulson,  S"oali  Fletcher, 

Harvey  Davis,  William  W.  Stoneburner, 

Martin  Durant,  William  J.  Shook, 

James  Earich,  John  W.  Van  Horn, 

George  W.  Gallion,  Hiram  J.  Wiley, 

John  W.  Hays,  William  J.  George, 

James  P.  Hartzell,  Philip  J.  George, 

John  Young. 


This  company  was  raised  in  Muskingura  and  Guernsey 
counties,  by  A.  L.  AVallar,  and  organized  December  25th., 
1861.  A.  L.  "Wallar  was  appointed  Captain,  Ilngli.  Dunne 
First  Lieutenant,  and  James  T.  Story  Second  Lieutenant. 

Captain  Wallar  bad  some  experience  in  military  life, 
having  served  in  the  Mexican  war.  He  is  a  man  of  good 
appearance,  affable  address,  and  a  genial  companion. 

Lieutenant  Dunne  is  a  man  of  strong  energy,  willing 
worker,  and  decided,  independent  character.  He  had  the 
qualities  in  request  for  a  good  officer.  The  Captain  and 
Lieutenant  both  had  those  traits  of  character  which,  when 
brought  together,  would  not  at  all  times  move  in  harmony. 
They  did  not  see  things  and  look  at  results  in  the  same  light 
and  tendency,  but  understanding  each  other  they  moved 
harmoniously. 

Lieutenant  Story  is  a  man  of  a  happy,  contented  mind, 
a  liable  manners,  and  jovial  nature,  which  made  him  exceed 
ingly  popular  with  his  men.  Adaptation  to  circumstances, 
and  a  knowledge  of  how  to  make  the  most  of  every  thing, 
strongly  marked  his  character.  A  pleasant  cheerfulness, 
dwelt  with  him  and  was  communicated  to  all  with  whom  be 
Ciune  in  contact. 

Captain  Wallar,  in  December,  1864,  was  commissioned  a 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  which  he  declined.  His  term  of  three 
years  service  having  expired,  he  was  mustered  out  in  Janu 
ary,  1865.  Lieutenant  Dunne  was  promoted  to  Captain  in 
the  spring  of  1864,  and  assigned  to  Company  "  K,"  which 
position  he  occupied  till  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta.  At  tljis 
time  he  had  only  two  months  to  serve,  and  his  circumstances 


64  HISTORY   OF   THE 

at  home  demanded  his  immediate  attention  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  resigned  his  commission,  left  the  service,  and 
settled  down  in  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  domestic  happiness* 

Lieutenant  J.  T.  Story,  a  year  previous  being  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant,  was  Acting  Adjutant  of  the  regiment 
on  the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  Lieutenant  Searck 
being  detailed  as  Adjutant-General  of  the  brigade.  Upon 
the  arrival  of  the  army  at  Goldsboro,  X.  C.,  Lieutenant 
Story  received  a  Captain's  commission,  but  refused  to  be 
mustered,  and  resigned  and  went  home  to  recuperate  his 
broken  constitution. 

Captain  C.  M.  Roberts  was  assigned  to  Company  "  F," 
where  he  remained  but  a  few  weeks.  He  being  an  officer 
of  fine  appearance  and  correct  business  habits,  was  detailed 
on  General  Blair's  staff,  as  Commissary  of  Musters  for  the 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps. 

Sergeant  Joseph  Miller,  of  "  G  "  company,  was  promoted 
to  First  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  "  F  "  company ;  Mar 
tin  Durant,  Sergeant  of  "  E  "  company,  was  promoted  to 
Second  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  "F"  company.  Both 
young  men  of  good  military  knowledge  and  attainments, 
unyielding  patriotism,  and  faithfulness  in  the  discharge  of 
all  duties,  made  them  very  acceptable  officers,  and  their 
promotion  very  desirable  and  well  deserved.  This  is  one 
of  the  commendable  traits  of  military  life,  when  free  from 
selfish  interest :  it  finds  out  the  efficient  and  meritorious, 
and  rewards  and  honors  them  accordingly. 

~No  other  change  was  made  in  the  officers  of  Company 
*k  F  "  till  the  muster-out  of  the  regiment. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  company  at  its  original 
organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  Samuel  H.  Yankirk,  3.  Henry  II.  Smith, 

2.  Alexander  V.  P.  Hager,     4.  Milton  B.  Thomas, 

5.  Humphrey  A.  McDonald. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Isaiah  B.  Case,  2.  Benjamin  F.  Tudor, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I. 


65 


o.  Francis  M.  Story,  6.  Thomas  Hopes, 

4.  Peter  W.  Sturtz,  7.  Henry  Berkheimer, 

5.  Richard  A.  Cusic,  8.  William  Allen. 

Jno.  W.  Burwell,  1st  Music'n, Jas.  Thos.  Bay,  2d  Musician 
William  Garges,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


P>ay,  Matthew  W. 
Barnes,  Orville  0. 
Brown,  Silas  W. 
Bucksenschultz,  John  J. 
Buker,  John 
Bowman,  George 
Bedell,  Alhert 
Bowrden,  William 
Boyer,  Percival 
Bucksenschnltz,  William 
Cook,  Thomas  W. 
Crane,  John 
Culbertson,  Alex. 
Davis,  John 
Davis,  Peter 
Dearnbarger,  Lewis 
Drummond,  William 
Dickason,  Richard 
Eschman,  Michael 
Gibbons,  Philip 
Gault,  William 
Hanson,  Robert 
Hurrel,  Samuel 
Herron,  Hugh 
Harper,  George 
Hadden,  William 
Hammond,  Levi 
Hubert,  Henry 
Johnston,  Henry 
5 


Johnston,  Abram 
Jenkins,  Clinton 
Leisure,  Lenhart 
Lemmon,  James 
Lynch,  Orriii 
McCall,  John  H. 
Mullin,  James 
Moorehead,  Jesse 
Moorehead,  Joseph 
McCune,  John 
MeKinney,  Joseph  E. 
Newell,  John  A. 
Oliver,  John 
Rogers,  Hiram 
Rogers,  Robert  C. 
Rogers,  Thomas 
Runion,  George  W. 
Runion,  Andrew  J. 
Runion,  Joel 
Richardson,  Joseph 
Redd,  James  A. 
Snyder,  John 
Sinsabaugh,  David 
Sturtz,  Dennison  G. 
St.  Clair,  Samuel  H. 
Smith,  David 
Smith,  Albert 
Storer,  John 
Taylor,  Samuel 


66  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Taylor,  James  West,  Wesley 

Tanner,  John  W.  Waters,  William  C. 

Urban,  Solomon  "Wilson,  Edward  C. 

Yankirk,  Joseph  Wilson,  Joseph  F. 

Yernon,  Edward  S.  Wymer,  Alfred 

Yernon,  Nicholas  Wylic,  John  C. 

Yernon,  William  A.  Wall,  Lewis  II. 

Wine,  John  J.  Zimmerman,  John 

The  following  named  enlisted  men  have  been  promoted 
to  the  rank  set  opposite  their  respective  names : 

Sergeant  Samuel  II.  Yankirk  to  Captain. 

"       Alex.  Y.  P.  Ilager  to  {Second  Lieutenant. 

"       H.  A.  McDonald  to  First  Lieutenant. 
Corporal  Thomas  W.  Hopes  to  First  Lieutenant. 

"        Albert  G.  Gault  to  Second  Lieutenant. 

"       John  J.  Wine  to  Second  Lieutenant. 

In  the  autumn  of  1862  the  following  named  enlisted  men 
were  added  to  the  company : 

Moses  Abbott,  Oliver  C'.  Story, 

I>avid  Cherry,  Arthur  D.  Simpson, 

Albert  G.  Gault,  Andrew  G.  Scott, 

Charles  Ilolcomb,  Dennis  Sturtz, 

Abram  Jackson,  John  Tremble, 

Peter  B.  Lane,  Alex.  IF.  White, 

John  A.  Mclvinney,  Elijah  Wortman, 

John  K.  McXary,  James  L.  Wortman, 

Samuel  Sprague. 

The  following  recruits,  substitutes  and  drafted  men  were 
added  to  the  company  in  October,  1863: 
George  H.  Echelberry,  Archibald  Bradford, 

George  Kearnes,  Josiah  I\.  Clorr, 

Thomas  Huffman,  A 1  ouzo  Conway, 

Uaniftt  A  damson,  Xuehariah  Xolon, 

Even  J.  Buker,  I>avid  Xorman, 

Caleb  Buker,  Thomas  A.  Palmer, 

Samuel  J.  Paxton,  IVter  Perrins. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  07 

David  W.  Shaffer,  Henry  ("ox, 

David  W.  Sprague,  Theodore  Colcman, 

Martin  V.  Todd,  William  II.  Goulding, 

"William  Slaughter,  Porter  English, 

Joseph  Smith,  William  Green, 

Simeon  Swank,  James  Ham  rick,. 

Thomas  A.  Stone,  William  W.  Ilarrold, 

Leander  Trnshell,  James  Holcomb, 

Archibald  Ankrom,  William  Humphrey, 

Edward  Allen,  "William  MeNaught, 

William  Gardner,  Adam  Philabaum, 

Morgan  Cornelius,  ( u'orge  Vickars, 

Samuel  Cox,  Crawford  Vickars. 

The  following  named  enlisted  men  re-enlisted  as  veterans 
January  5th, 1864 : 

SERGEANTS. 

Peter  "W.  Sturtz,  Kdward  S.  Ycrnon, 

Isaiah  B.  Case,  William  Hadden, 

William  P.  Gault, 

CORPORALS. 

John  II.  MeCall,  Samuel  J.  Taylor, 

Orville  0.  Barnes. 

PRIVATES. 

James  T.  l>ay,  Joseph  Moorehead, 

Henry  IVirklieimcr,  Jesse  Moorehead, 

James  Caldwell,  Joseph  E.  Mclvinney, 

John  II.  Crane,  James  A.  Redd, 

Richard  .11.  Cusick,  Thomas  ]{ogers, 

Samuel  llurrell,  Andrew  J.  Kunnion, 

-\lexander  Culbcrtson,  Joel  Runnion, 

Peter  Davis,  David  II.  Sinsabaugh, 

James  (laliher,  William  C.  Waters, 

Lewis  Huffman,  Robert  Hanson, 

Abiram  Johnson,  Alfred  Wymer,  Sergeant, 

AVilliam  C.  Garges,  Phillip  Gibbons,         " 


68  HISTORY    OF   THE 

The   following  Lave  been  discharged  for  disability 
tracted  in  the  service,  and  wounds : 

Percival  Boyer,  John  Stover, 

Silas  W.  Brown,  Samuel  A.  St.  Clair, 

John  Bucksenschultz,  David  Smith, 

John  W.  Burwell,  Henry  C.  Smith, 

John  Buker,  William  A.  Vernon, 

William  Bowden,  Wesley  West, 

Thomas  W.  Cook,  Edward  C.  Wilson, 

John  Davis,  Lewis  Wall, 

Lewis  L.  Dearnbarger,  David  C.  linger, 

William  Drummond,  Samuel  II.  Johns, 

Michael  Eschman,  James  B.  McDonald, 

Hugh  Herron,  John  R.  Scott, 

James  Lemmon,  Joseph  W.  Miller, 

John  A.  Newell,  Albert  T.  Sprague, 

George  W.  Runnion,  Joseph  B.  Yankirk, 

Joseph  Richardson,  John  Buker,  sr., 

George  Bradford. 

The  following  have  died  of  disease  and  wounds : 

Francis  M.  Story,  Sergeant,  William  Bucksenschultz, 

William  Allen,  Corporal,  George  Bowman, 

Richard  Dickason,  John  McCime, 

Robert  C.  Rogers,  Dennison  G.  Sturtz, 

Albert  Smith,  Nicholas  Vernon, 

Joseph  F.  Wilson,  Corporal,  John  B.  Atchison, 

Robert  Bell,  James  Atchison, 

Benjamin  Conoway,  William  Carroll, 

Christopher  Crothers,  Jasper  Halsey, 

Samuel  Ilurrel,  Levi  Hammond, 

Samuel  T.  Morrow,  James  E.  Protzman, 

Minor  Pryor,  Perry  Sprague, 

Philip  Shaffer,  Jonathan  Whitaker. 

KILLED   IN   BATTLE. 

Oliver  C.  Story,  Raymond,  Miss. 
Corporal  John  Oliver,  Atlanta,  Ga. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I. 

Lieutenant  John  J.  Wine,  Milliken's  Bend,  La, 
James  Taylor,  Champion  Hills,  Miss. 
John  Tremble,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Joel  liunnioii,  near  Millen,  Ga. 
Sergeant  Phillip  Gibbons,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Robert  Hanson,  died  a  prisoner. 
The  following  have  deserted : 

Henry  Herbert,  Orrin  Lynch, 

George  Harper,  James  Mullen, 

Lenhart  Leasure,  Solomon  Urban, 

John  C.  Wylie. 

The  following  have  beon  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps : 
Jason  A.  Barnard,  Hiram  Rogers, 

John  A.  MeKinney,  disch'ged  John  Zimmerman. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  companies  in  the  army . 
A  better  skirmish  company  never  went  in  advance  of 
troops.  It  has  lost  some  of  the  very  best  men  that  ever 
carried  a  musket. 


o. 

Was  raised  in  Muskingum  and  Noble  counties,  and  was 
organized  January  lltli,  1862.  Peter  Gebhart  was  chosen 
(Captain,  John  "VV.  A.  Gillespic  First  Lieutenant,  and  Joseph 
0.  Jenkins  First  Lieutenant.' 

Captain  Gebhart' 8  health  failing  him,  was  soon  compelled 
to  resign  and  go  home. 

Lieutenant  Jenkins  becoming  dissatisfied  with  military 
life — disliking  its  hardships,  dangers  and  exposures,  and 
seeing  no  way  to  escape  so  much  sacrifice  as  the  true  faith 
ful  soldier  must  necessarily  make,  except  to  assume  the 
responsibility  and  abide  the  consequences  of  his  own  inde 
pendence — therefore  quit  the  service  of  his  own  accord,  and 
is  consequently  marked  a  deserter.  The  writer  is  not  in 
formed  of  the  justice  or  injustice  of  the  charge,  but  merely 
gives  the  assertion  of  the  records.  Lieutenant  Gillespie  was 
then  appointed  Captain  of  the  company ;  Jesse  Patterson 
First  Lieutenant,  and  Sergeant  Iret  liinchart  Second  Lieu 
tenant. 

Under  these  officers  the  company  did  efficient  service : 
was  under  good  discipline,  and  did  honor  to  its  officers  and 
regiment.  The  company  had  many  noble  and  good  men  — 
men  who  were  willing  to  stand  by  the  flag  of  their  country 
to  the  last  extremity. 

Lieutenant  Patterson  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Lake 
Providence,  Louisiana.  He  was  a  good,  faithful  and  efficient 
officer.  He  was  by  no  means  an  intemperate  man,  but  the 
tempter  getting  the  victory  over  him  once,  and  for  this  single 
offence,  not  repeated,  we  have  heard,  was  mustered  out. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  71 

The  same  closeness  would  have  mustered  out  one-half  of 
the  officers  of  the  army.  This  circumstance  shows  the 
strict  discipline  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment. 

Lieutenant  Rhinehart  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant 
J)ecernher  19th,  1863.  Captain  Gillespic  having  served  his 
three  years  with  much  honor  and  great  faithfulness,  was 
mustered  out  of  service  early  in  January,  1865,  at  Savan 
nah,  Ga.  Lieutenant  Rhinehart  was  promoted  to  Captain ; 
Alfred  Wyrner,  of  Company  "  F,"  to  First  Lieutenant  and 
assigned  to  Company  "G;"  Sergeant  Cyrus  H.  Gardner 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant :  promotions  well  de 
served  and  well  honored.  They  were  both  young  men  of 
large  military  experience  and  correct  habits,  and  make  very 
efficient  officers. 

No  other  changes  were  made  in  the  officers  of  the  com 
pany  during  its  term  of  service.  This  company  has  a  good 
record,  and  sustained  a  high  reputation  in  the  regiment. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  William  C.  Simmons,          3.  Samuel  Hally, 

2.  Jesse  Patterson,  4.  Fred  Boach, 

5.  Peter  B.  Lupardus. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  Samuel  Fowler,  5.  Michael  Stewart, 

2.  John  Haze,  6.  John  R,  Hunt, 

3.  Caleb  Mercer,  7.  Owen  Morgan, 

4.  William  J.  Anderson,  8.  Cyrus  H.  Gardner. 

John  F.  Fenton,  1st  Musician,  William  Gibson,  2d  Musician, 
George  W.  Gillespie,  Wagoner. 

PRIVATES. 

Arnet,  Charles  Bond,  Jeremiah 

Archer,  Wilson  Bash,  George 

Armstrong,  William  Carpenter,  Thomas 

Armstrong,  Wilber  F.  Carpenter,  John  C. 

Beasley,  Henry  Cusac,  Jacob 


72 


HISTOEY   OF   THE 


Cowen,  Joseph  P. 
Dixson,  Joseph 
David,  Kobert  A. } 
Deaver,  James 
Ellis,  Edward 
Fowler,  William 
Fogle,  Hiram 
Fogle,  Elijah 
Fowler,  Immer 
Fry,  William  F- 
Gebhart,  Samuel  H. 
Gatchel,  Joseph 
George,  Philip 
Gould,  Levi 
Gibson,  John 
Grimes,  William  J. 
Gaffhey,  Martin 
Hinds,  Charles 
Hartsell,  James  P. 
Hickle,  Elisha  D. 
Halter,  Francis  C. 
Hill,  Daniel  J. 
Johnson,  George  W. 
Johns,  George  W. 
Lindsay,  C.  W. 
Lindsay,  Charles 
Lindsay,  Aquilla 
Little,  Kelsey 
Mercer,  Job  T. 


Mercer,  Thomas 
Mercer,  David 
Mercer,  George  W. 
Mercer,  Andrew 
Mulnix,  Owen 
Morris,  Lewis 
Miller,  Joseph 
Morgan,  Lewis 
McClary,  Samuel 
McFerren,  John  W. 
Morgan,  George  W. 
Purkey,  Aaron  S. 
Porter,  Frank 
Robinson,  John  W. 
Roach,  Henry  M. 
Russell,  Ebenezer 
Rhinehart,  Iret 
Spiker,  Henry 
Stinchcomb,  John  W 
Savely,  Augustus 
Treaner,  Jacob 
Trout,  Samuel  K 
Trimble,  John 
Vandyke,  John 
Yan  Meter,  James  S. 
Yore,  Martin 
Weller,  William  J. 
Wheeler,  David 


Yaw,  Oliver  P. 
The  company's  accession  in  the  autumn  of  1862,  and 
again  in  1864,  were  filled  up  with  recruits,  substitutes  and 
drafted  men.    We  have  not  the  records  to  give  them   all 
correctly,  nor  to  distinguish  them  from  one  another. 
Alfred  Lippett,  Reason  St.  Clair, 

Barnard  Johnson,  Samuel  St.  Clair, 

Charles  W.  Spiker,  Eden  St.  Clair, 

Armon  Wilcox,  William  Wyrrell, 


SEVENTY-EIGIITri  REGIMENT  0.  V.  V.  I. 


George  P.  Stoneburner, 
Abr-i.m  Stilbz, 
Hiram  Atkinson, 
Lewis  Balcy, 
James  F.  Bond, 
David   Brill, 
George  Butts, 
Asa  Perry, 
Lorairi  Big  ford, 
Marniau  Bates, 
Taylor  Geary, 
John  Geary, 
.lames  Graham, 
William  Halley, 
Jacob  Hagan, 
Alex.  W.  Humphreys, 
Conrad  Harmon, 
A.  Knight, 
William  B.  Long, 
Simon  Morris, 
James  II.  Moore, 
William  S.  Miller, 
Johnson  Ruby, 
Nelson  Rydnor, 
William  R.  Davis, 
Joseph  Rheinhart, 
William  Kent,  1864. 


David  R.  Yaw, 
Peter  Vandyke, 
John  Vandyke, 
Jacob  Yoke, 
David  Denins, 
Adam  Denins, 
Solomon  F.  Dennis, 
John  Dennis, 
Solomon  F.  Heskctt, 
James  F.  Ilinton, 
Lyman  J.  Johnson, 
William  Vint, 
William  Little, 
James  W.  Maekey, 
Leonard  Marian, 
Robert  Peacock, 
Daniel  Richesou, 
William  Rock wel  1 , 
John  B.  Stewart, 
Enoch  M.  Stout, 
Irwin  Williamson, 
Lindley  Williams, 
William  Ricker, 
William  Robinson, 
Samuel  Williams. 
Aaron  Williams, 
James  Stilts, 


James  Kells,         " 

The  following  Substitute*  and  Drafted  men  wero 
to  the  Company  in  November,  1864. 
Henry  Buriton,  Henry  Carter, 

Thomas  Carney,  Samuel  Davidson, 

Josiah  Farnough,  John  X.  Fry, 

Wheeler  W.  Heath,  Israel  Hart, 

James  Knepper,  Carry  McQuilty, 


David  W.  Pierce, 


Samuel  W.  Shaw, 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE 

Ber-jamin  Bead),  Ezra  Bond, 

Alon/o  Earhart,  Ramsey  Smith, 

Isaac  Dickson,  Jacob  Locker, 

William  Miller,  Samson  Pepper?, 

Adam  S\val>,  Charles  Bntterfield, 

Smith  Simpkine,  Nathan  Welloughby, 

William  Backer,  Jonathan  Waits. 
The  I'ollowing  re-enlisted  as  Veterans: 

SERGEANTS. 

Frank   Porter,  James  S.  Van  meter, 

J.  Fo\v!cr,  David  A.  Robert, 

David  B.  Mercer,  Joseph  Miller, 

John  lx.  Hunt,  Cyrus  II.  Gardner. 

CORPORALS. 

Caleb  M.  Mercer,  Joseph  P.  Cowen, 

Kobert  Peacock,  David  Wheeler, 

Kelsey  Little,  Chalks  W.  Lindsey, 

Aaron  S.  Burkcy,  .  John  II.  Gibson. 

PRIVATES. 

J oli  11  W.  Ivobin&on,  Joseph  Dickson, 

John  II.  Fcntoii,  Joseph  Gatchel, 

Harry  Ivoaoh,  Martin  Vore, 

Samuel  E.  Trout,  Iliram  Fogle, 

William  F.  Fry. 
The  folio vvii  g  luive  been  discharged  for  disability: 

SERGEANTS. 

Frederick  Roach,  Peter  B.  Lupardus, 

James  Deaver: 

CORPORALS. 

John  Hays,  AVilliam  Archer, 

David  Brill,  Wrillium  Fowler. 

PRIVATES. 

Elijah  Fogle,  William  J.  Anderson, 

John  Vttmh  ke,  Eden  St.  Clair, 

Geoige  V\f.  GiiK-spie,  Krai  klin  Halter, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.  V.  V.  I.  75 

Thomas  Mercer,  Samuel  II,  Gebbart, 

George  W.  Jobnson,  Lewis  Morgan, 

Henry  Beasley,  Lewis  Morris, 

George  Morgan. 

The  following  were  transferred  to  the  Invalid  Corps: 
Thomas  Carpenter,  Owen  Mulnix, 

Aguilla  Lindsey,  Owen  Morgan, 

Charles  Lindsay,  Wilson  Gibson. 

The  following  were  transferred  to  other  Companies — E 
andC: 

"William  Armstrong,  Philip  J.  George, 

Peter  Kartell,  Levi  Gould, 

George  Bash,  "William  J.  Weller, 

Charles  Hinds. 

The  following  have  died  of  disease : 
Sergeant  William  C.  Simmons,  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  September 

12,  1862. 

Sergeant  Samuel  Halley,  Shiloh,  Tenn,,  May  3,  1862. 
Wilber  F.  Armstrong,  Cincinnati,  O.,  March  22, 1862. 
John  Trimble,  Savannah,  Tenn.,  April  12,  1802, 
Jacob  Treanor,  Evansville,  Ind.,  May  22, 18G2. 
William  J.  Grimes,  Cincinnati,  O.,  June,  1862. 
Daniel  J.  Hill,  Ohio,  June,  1862. 
Edward  Ellis,  Ohio,  June,  1862. 

Corporal  Samuel  Fowler,  Jackson,  Tenn.,  July,  1862. 
Augustus  Savely,  Stony  Point,  Tenn.,  May  5,  1862. 
Samuel  McCleary,  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  September  12,  1862. 
Ebenezer  Russell,  Cincinnati,  0.,  June,  1862. 
Arius  Knight,  Holly,  Springs,  Miss.,  January  11,  1863. 
Martin  Gatfney,  Cincinnati,  O.,  June,  1862. 
David  Denins,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  February  15,  1863. 
William  Mendenhall,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  February  18, 1863. 
William  Little,  Memphis,  Tenn.,  February  18,  1863. 
John  Denins,  Lake  Providence,  La.,  March  25, 1863. 
Simon  Morris,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April,  1863. 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE 

James  Wheeler,  near  Vicksburg,  June  24,  1863. 
Aaron  Williams,  Memphis,  Te an.,  January  19,  1853. 
Daniel  liieheson,  Columbus,  ().,  April  12,  1864. 
Enoch  M.  Stout,  Vieksburg,  Miss.,  April,  1864. 
William  Bueker,  Vieksburg,  Miss.,  April,  1864. 
Lyman  J.  Johnson,  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  April,  1861. 
John  W.  Stincheonib,  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  April,  186 1. 
Andrew  Mercer,  Vivksburg,  Miss.,  August  20,  1864. 
Jam  M  F.  Uinton,  n^tr  AtlaiiU,  GJ,,  Sapbomb^r  2),  IS  JL 

The  following  have  been  wounded  : 
Samuel  St.  Glair,  0  rimpion  Hills,  Miss.,  May  ;>), 
Jo,<,!pk  UlK'iuhart,  (>  lampion  I  [ills,  Miss.,  May  16, 
Robert  A.  '!  Vivid,  Campion    Hills,  Miss.,  May,  1863. 
Joseph  Dixou,  Kenuesaw  Moutrtaiu,  Ga.,  Junt;  27,  186  L 
Charles  W.  Spiker,  Atlanta,  G-a.,  July  22,  1864. 
Jacob  Yaho,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864. 
Peter  Vandyke,  Atlanta,  Ga./July,  1864. 
Jarn-js  Kolls,  (Pensioner),  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July,  186  i. 
Captain  J.  W.  A.  Gilluspie,  June  12  and  July  22,  1864. 
Lieutenant  Iret  ll'Kjiuliart,  July  22,  1864. 

The  following  have  been  killed  or  died  of  wounds  : 
Sergeant  Francis  Torter,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864. 
Israel  Dudley,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864. 
Robert  Peacock,  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Ga.,  June  27,1864. 
Sergeant  James  S silts,  Champion  Hills,  Miss.,  M-.ty  16. 1863. 
Lewis  Baley,  Champion  Hills,  Miss.,  May  16, 1863. 
Joseph  P.  Cowan,  Baker's  Creek,  Miss.,  February  5,  1868. 
Taylor  Geary,  Baker's  Crcjk,  Miss.,  February  5,  1863. 

PRLSONEKS. 

Henry  Spiker,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  22,  1864. 

James  Kells,  Atlanta,  Ga.?  July  22,  1864. 

Henry  Roach,  Jonesboro',  Ga.,  September  4, 1864. 

Captain  J.  W.  A.  Gillesple,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Jnly  22,  1864. 

This  company  has  H/td  probably  more  men  connected  with 
it  than  any  other  in  the  regiment.     It  suffered  severely,  but 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.  V.  V.  I.  77 

has  sustained  itself  nobly  in  all  battles  and  campaigns  of  tlio 
regiment.  It  has  made  a  record  of  which  its  friends  may 
be  proud. 

Captain  Irot  RhVmhart  was  assigned  to  company  E  after 
Captain  McCarty's  imprisonment,  where  ho  remained  till 
the  muster  out  of  the  regiment,  lie  won  himself  a  high 
reputation  at  Corps  Headquarters,  where  the  company  did 
duty  since  the  battle  of  July  22. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I. 

John  Dcnius,  Lyman  J.  Johnson, 

Martin  (Jut rev,  AVilliam  Little, 

James  F.  Hinton,  James  IL  Moore, 

A.  Knight,  Daniel  Richeson, 

Samuel  McCleary,  John  AV.  Stinchcomb, 

Ebenczer  Russell,  Jacob  Treamer, 

AVilliam  Bucher,  Michael  Stewart, 

Enoch  M.  Stout.  John  AV.  McPherson, 

James  AVhceler,  Charles  Arnct, 

Aaron  AVilliams,  Jeramiah  Bond, 

AVilber  F.  Armstrong,  George  Butts, 

Ehvood  Ellis,  AVilliam  llalley. 

KILLED    IX   BATTLE. 

James  Stilty,  Samuel  Fowler, 

Francis  Porter,  Lewis  Bowley, 

Joseph  Cowen,  Taylor  Geary, 

Robert  Peacock,  Henry  M.  Roach,  missing. 

TRANSFERRED. 

AVilliam  Armstrong,  Peter  Hartsell, 

George  Bash,  AVilliam  AVellin, 

Philip  J.  George,  Charles  Lindsey. 


Was  raised  in  Guernsey  county  by  John  T.  Rainey,  and 
organized  January  — ,  1862.  John  T.  Rainey  was  appoint 
ed  Captain,  John  F.  Grimes  First  Lieutenant,  and  John 
Orr  Second  Lieutenant. 

The  company  was  composed  of  a  noble,  robust  class  of 
men,  ready  and  able  for  any  duty  and  difficult  work.  In 
no  company  in  the  regiment  was  there  a  greater  spirit  of 
contentment,  mirth  and  cheerfulness.  Every  evening  in 
Company  "  II "  would  be  heard  the  merry  songs  of  happy 
voices,  echoing  throughout  the  camp.  The  company  always 
took  a  cheerful  part  in  the  numerous  battles  and  campaigns 
of  the  regiment,  and  has  lost  many  fine  noble  men  in  battle 
and  by  disease.  It  has  highly  honored  patriotic  Guernsey, 
and  made  a  proud  record  in  the  history  of  the  war. 

Captain  Rainey  was  a  lawyer  of  Cambridge,  and  a  favor 
ite  generally  with  men.  His  disposition  was  such  as  to 
make  him  popular  with  his  company,  and  the  regiment 
generally ;  having  much  energy,  some  military  experience — 
having  served  in  the  Mexican  war — and  being  naturally  a 
jovial,  free,  social  man,  made  him,  as  supposed  by  the  regi 
ment,  eminently  fitted  for  Major  of  the  regiment,  to  which 
position  he  was  chosen  at  Grand  Junction,  Tenn.,  and 
received  his  commission  afterwards  at  Memphis,  prior  to 
its  entrance  on  the  Yicksburg  campaign.  He  commanded 
the  regiment  with  great  ability  and  acceptance  through  the 
battles  of  Port  Gibson,  Raymond  and  Jackson,  Miss.  On 
the  morning  of  the  commencement  of  the  battle  of  Cham 
pion  Hills,  Lieutenant-Colonel  "Wiles  took  command  of  the 
regiment,  Major  Rainey  assisting  him.  At  the  investment 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  77 

of  Vicksburg  by  General  Grant's  army,  Major  Raincy  was 
detailed  on  General  Leggett's  staff  as  Assistant  Inspector 
General,  in  which  position  he  remained  until  after  the  fall 
of  Atlanta,  when  l;e  resigned  his  commission  and  left  the 
service. 

Lieutenant  Grimes'  health  so  far  failed  as  to  compel  liim 
to  quit  the  service.  He  therefore  resigned  his  commission 
after  the  battle  of'Sliiloli,  went  home,  and  soon  died  of 
disease  contracted  in  the  service.  He  was  a  young  man  of 
line  attainments  and  moral  worth,  and  promised  to  be  a 
very  efficient  officer. 

Lieutenant  Orr  was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and 
Sergeant  Wm.  Dodds  to  Second  Lieutenant.  The  latter 
resigned  at  Memphis,  in  February,  1862.  Lieutenant  Orr 
was  appointed  Captain,  and  Sergeant  Josiah  Scott  First 
Lieutenant.  Lieutenant  Scott  was  a  noble,  Christian  young 
man,  and  beloved  not  only  by  his  company,  but  by  all  the 
regiment.  He  was  a  cheerful,  social  and  pleasant  your  j 
officer.  When  the  regiment  was  encamped  at  Vicksburg 
he  obtained  a  leave  of  absence  and  went  home  to  visit  his 
family,  where  he  was  taken  ill  with  the  small-prx  and  died. 
His  death  was  much  regretted  and  deeply  lamented  by  Iris 
company  and  the  regiment. 

Sergeant  Henry  Speer,  of  "  A"  company,  was  promoted 
to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  "II"  company,  in 
[November,  1863.  He  was  a  young  man  of  good  morals, 
very  efficient  in  all  lie  did.  His  promotion  was  one  of 
merit  and  honor.  He  served  faithfully  in  his  company  till 
at  Atlanta,  in  the  battle  of  the  22d  of  July,  he  was  severely 
wounded,  making  amputation  of  his  arm  necessary.  He 
was  sent  home,  where  he  died  shortly  after,  in  consequence 
of  his  wounds. 

Captain  Orr  remained  in  command  of  the  company  till 
January,  1865,  when  his  three  years'  service  expiring,  he 
was  honorably  mustered  out.  lie  was  a  very  jovial,  pleas 
ant  and  good  officer.  He  was  cheerful  in  camp,  and  brave 
almost  to  a  fault  in  battle.  On  the  22d  of  July,  in  the 


78  HISTORY    OF   THE 

ever  memorable  battle  before  Atlanta,  lie  killed  a  rebel 
with  bis  sword,  who  had  hold  of  the  colors  of  the  regiment, 
lie  fought  with  the  most  desperate  bravery  in  personal 
combat  in  preventing  the  capture  of  the  flag.  Captain 
Joseph  Orr  lived  in  single  blessedness  till  advanced  in  his 
forties,  having  obtained  a  comfortable  living,  and  more 
than  a  competency  to  maintain  a  family.  He  finally,  after 
much  exhortation  from  the  Chaplain  and  his  Colonel, 
repented  of  the  sin  of  living  an  old  bachelor,  corrected  and 
reformed  his  life  by  marrying  a  wife. 

Lieutenant  Springer,  of  Company  "  C,"  was  promoted 
to  a  Captain,  and  assigned  to  Company  "  II,"  but  still 
remained  on  General  Leggett's  staff,  in  charge  of  the 
Division  Ambulance  Train.  This  position  lie  had  filled 
with  great  efficiency  and  acceptance. 

John  P.  Ross,  Sergeant-Major  of  the  regiment,  Avas 
promoted  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  Company 
"  II,"  and  had  command  of  the  company  till  the  muster- 
out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  one  of  those  "few  and  far 
between  "  very  best  of  young  men ;  of  high  Christian  integ 
rity,  of  good  attainments,  efficiency  and  close  attention  to 
his  business,  that  made  him  an  officer  of  much  success, 
acceptance  and  ability. 

Sergeant  Robert  II.  Brown  was  promoted  to  Second 
Lieutenant.  He  was  also  a  good  young  man,  and  an  effic 
ient  officer,  and  worthy  of  every  trust  and  honor  given  him. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization  : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  William  A.  Dodds,  3.  David  Rainey, 

2.  Josiah  Scott,  4.  William  Caliban, 

5.  Robert  Brown. 

CORPORALS. 

1.  David  McMillen,  4.  Gabriel  II.  Feist er, 

2.  John  A.  Johnson,  5.  David  T.  Caldvvell, 

3.  Samuel  Xelson,  6.  Leander  Scott, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMES!   0.    V.    V.    I. 


7.  Lcvi  Johnson, 
Shadric  Turner,  Musiei 

Alexander,  John 
Bichard,  P.  S. 
Barnett,  Jacob 
Burns,  Joshua 
Blacky  James  II. 
Beam,  Daniel 
Britton,  Robert 
Berry,  James 
Cochran,  Thomas 
Casey,  Samuel 
Clipner.  David 
Clipner,  John 
Camp,  William  T. 
Camp,  John  W. 
Cook,  John  B. 
Craig,  Jol in 
Cockrel,  George 
Dunifer,  John 
Dawson,  James 
Dillahey  John, 
J)onalson,  Joshua 
Gill,  Joseph 
Gill,  Elijah 
George,  Price  C. 
J< )hnson,  Nathan  u- 1 
Hudson,  James 
Hunter,  John 
Hutchison,  Nicholas 
FTayncs,  John 
Hartshorn,  Thomas 
Hendrick,  Rul'us 

Kimble,  William 
Ivimble,  Robert 
King,  Benjamin 


8.  Hezekiah  Hyatt. 

an.       John  T.  Allen,  Wagoner. 
PRIVATES. 

Kenedy,  Benjamin 
Keown,  Robert 
Ximble,  George 
Kimble,  George  W. 
Linton,  Samuel 
Lake,  William 
McBurney,  Charles 
McDonald,  Finley 
Mitchell,  George  P. 
McBurney,  William 
Stiller,  Lewis 
Mitchel,  David 
Murphy,  Lafayette  F. 
Miller,  James  M. 
Miligan,  Alexander  F. 
McBurney,  James 
Paden,  Dallas 
Powell,  John  W. 
Shriver,  Adam  G. 
Stevenson,  George  W. 
Scott,  Robert 
Sigman,  Isaac 
Stevenson,  Alexander 
Schuy heart,  Isaac 
Thompson,  Abram 
Thompson,  Archibald  L. 
Turner,  James 
rl\irner,  James  A. 
Tucker,  Joseph 
Yoorhers,  Joshua 
A^oorhers,-  Lewis 
Williams,  William  P. 
"Wilson,  Robert 
White,  Reese 

White,  LIlLiha, 


80 


HISTORY   OF   THE 


The  following  named  recruits  were  added  to  the  company 

in  the  autumn  of  1862: 

Francis  Scott,  Alexander  L.  Blair, 

Henry  Aloves,  Edward  Hall, 

William  M.  Barber,  James  Culberson. 

In  the  winter   of  1863-4  the  following  named  recruits  for 

three  years  were  added  : 

Edward  R.  Dunifer, 
Robert  Hoover, 
Willliam  M.  Stage, 
Laban  Sigman, 
Rolla  Sigman . 
The  following  named  substitutes  and   drafted  men  were 

added  to  the  list : 

James  Mathers, 
John  Mooney, 
Jeremiah  McBride, 
Nathan  McElfresh, 
John  W.  Nebert, 
Lewis  Ours, 
John  P.  Pastors, 
John  P.  Reddick, 
Miller  Tilton, 
Samuel  C.  Turner, 
Samuel  Vinsel, 
Reese  White, 
Albert  P.  Wilbert, 
John  Waters, 
David  Warner, 
James  K.  Walston, 
James  Wellington, 
John  M.  Haugh, 
Joseph  Young, 
James  M.  Lucas. 
In  January,  1864,  the  following  named  men  re-enlisted  as 

veterans  to  serve  three  years  more : 

Robert  H.  Brown,  James  II.  Black, 

Jacob  Barnett,  Joshua  Burris, 


George  M.  Bramlett, 
James  V.  P.  Briton, 
William  Ball, 
Thomas  M.  Clark, 
Alexander  Clark, 


James  B.  Allen, 
James  E.  Arnold, 
Joseph  R.  Black, 
George  R.  Baughman, 
Samuel  II.  Bartholomew, 
Joseph  M.  Brown, 
Jonathan  N.  Brown, 
James  Collins, 
Washington  Darling, 
Ezeriah  Dermy, 
Human  Gorman, 
William  S.  Green, 
William  Hastings, 
Casabine  Hawk, 
Joseph  Heft, 
Joseph  Ilerles, 
John  Jarvas, 
James  C.  Keltner, 
Christopher  Lindsey, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  81 

James  Berry,  John  W.  Powell, 

"William  II.  Callahan,  David  B.  Rainey, 

Thomas  Cochran,  Isaac  Sigman, 

John  Clipner,  Robert  B.  Scott, 

James  Dossan,  Adam  G.  Shriver, 

Elijah  Gill,  George  W.  Stevenson, 

Price  C.  George,  James  Turner, 

Charles  McBurney,  James  A.  Turner, 

James  McBurney,  Abram  Thompson, 

Lafayette  Murphy,  Elihu  White. 

The  following  have  been  discharged  for  disability: 

John  T.  Allen,  William  T.  Jones, 

William  M.  Barker,  Benjamin  Kennedy, 

John  Craig,  Benjamin  King, 

John  Dunifcr,  Samuel  Linton, 

John  Dill  alley,  David  Mitchel, 

Elijah  Gill,  Lewis  Miller, 

Ilezekiah  Hyatt,  James  Miller, 

Xicholas  Ilutchinson,  Samuel  ISTelson, 

Thomas  Ilartson,  William  J.  Sopher, 

John  A.  Johnson,  Archibald  L.  Thompson, 
Peter  Williams. 

The  following  named   soldiers   of  Company  "H"  have 
died  of  wounds,  and  disease  contracted  in  the  service : 

Lieutenant  Josiah  Scott,  Lieutenant  John  F.  Grimes, 

Lieutenant  'Henry  Speer. 
John  Alexander,  killed  at  Atlanta. 
James  Aloves,  killed  on  railroad. 
James  B.  Alton.  Daniel  Beam. 

Daniel  Caldwell,  died  at  Savannah,  Tenn. 
John  W.  Camp.  George  Cochran. 

William  T.  Camp.  Joshua  Donclson. 

James  Culbertson.  Gabriel  Fields. 

James  Hudson,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Champion  IlilU 
John  Hunter.  John  IFayncs. 

6 


82  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Nathan  Johnson. 

William  Kimblc,  killed  at  Atlanta,  July  22d,  18G4. 
Kobcrt  Ivcown.  John  Milliken. 

William  Lake,  died  of  wounds,  Marietta,  Ga. 
David  McMillen,  died  of  wounds,  Champion  Hills. 
William  McBride,  killed  at  Champion  Hills. 
Dallas  Padcn.  George  P.  Mitchell,  deserted. 

Alex.  F.  Miliken.  Jeremiah  McBrido. 

Leandcr  Scott,  died  at  Bolivar,  Tenn. 
Adam  G.  Shriver,  killed  at  Atlanta,  July  22d,  1804. 
Alexander  Stevenson,  died  at  Shiloh,  Term. 
-James  Sleoth.  James  Schuyhart. 

James  Turner,  killed  at  Atlanta,  Ga. 
Shedrack  Turner.  Joshua  Voorhcs. 

Lewis  Yoorhe*. 


I. 

This  company  was  raised  in  Columbiana  County  by 
Andrew  Scott,  Chaplain  Todd,  Jolin  B.  Mills,  and  S.  A. 
DeWolf,  and  organized  January  lltli,  1862.  Andrew 
Scott  was  appointed  Captain,  John  B.  Mills  First  Lieu 
tenant,  and  S.  A.  'De"\Volf  Second  Lieutenant. 

The  company  was  made  up  of  as  fine  a  class  of  men  as 
ever  entered  the  service  — the  best  that  ever  left  the  county. 
The  religious  element  was  strong  in  the  company;  the  men 
were  of  the  wealthy  families  of  the  county,  well  educated, 
and  representing  every  branch  of  trade  and  business.  Tlie 
Company  suffered  much  from  disease,  and  in  battle ;  its  very 
best  young  men  have  fallen.  Especially  has  it  been  true  of 
this  company,  the  fact  observed  by  so  many,  and  noticeable 
in  every  company  in  the  regiment,  "  that  the  arrow  of  death 
is  mysteriously  select  in  the  choice  of  its  victims:"  choosing 
most  generally  the  best  men.  Those  whom  we  regret  most 
to  spare,  and  give  up  most  unwillingly;  men  the  most 
exemplary  and  upright,  the  most  useful  and  best  loved  in 
the  company,  and  at  home. 

Some  of  the  men  in  Company  "  I "  have  filled  important 
positions  in  the  regiment,  and  at  Division,  Corps  and 
Department  headquarters.  Very  little  of  the  rowdy  element 
was  found  in  this  company.  Their  officers  were  men  of 
Christian  integrity.  Captain  Scott  was  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  and  by  his  influence  called  many 
such  to  go  with  him.  The  Captain  was  a  good,  jolly,  social 
man,  which  made  him  popular,  and  his  company  pleasant. 
Xo  man  except  Captain  Wilson  exercised  a  more  watchful 
care  over  his  men.  When  divine  services  were  held  in  the 


84  HISTORY   OP  THE 

regiment,  the  Captain  was  always  present,  and  the  majority 
of  his  men  were  with  him.  The  Captain  was  a  little  wrong 
in  his  political  theory,  but  all  right  in  .his  practice.  Old 
prejudices  and  education  gave  him  a  leaning  toward  Yallan- 
dingham  and  the  disloyal  party  of  the  North,. but  diminished 
nothing  of  his  hatred  for  secession,  and  weakened  none  of 
his  efforts  to  put  it  down,  and  destroy  the  last  armed  rebel 
against  the  Government.  He  did  not  like  the  Administra 
tion,  but  that  mattered  not  as  long  as  he  was  willing  to 
defend  it  with  the  sword,  and  co-operate  with  it  in  the 
suppression  of  rebellion;  and  as  form  is  nothing,  but  execu 
tion  everything,  we  can  forgive  the  Captain's  mistaken 
theories  on  politics,  since  his  action  and  conduct  opposed 
those  theories,  and  prevented  him  not  from  going  forth  and 
nobly  sustaining  his  country's  flag. 

Lieutenant  Mills,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made  in 
connection  with  Company  "  C,"  was  a  young  man  of  decided 
influence  ar  d  most  excellent  character,  and  did  much  by 
way  of  influencing  many  young  men  to  enlist  in  their 
country's  service.  He  was  generally  popular  with  his  men, 
and  throughout  the  regiment.  A  man  of  strong  sympathies 
and  tender  feelings,  and  no  one  did  more  to  alleviate  the 
sufferings  of  destitute  poor  women  and  children  through 
the  army's  entire  line  of v  march.  lie  would  frequently, 
after  the  regiment  would  encamp  in  the  evening,  mount  a 
horse  and  search  out  the  poor  of  the  vicinity,  and  do  some 
thing  for  them.  He  was  always  active  and  busy  at  some 
thing,  especially  in  getting  possession  of  fine  horses.  He 
was  quite  successful  in  maintaining  that  there  was  no  horse 
in  the  army  like  his,  but  pricatcly  thinking  every  other  horse 
better  than  his.  In  the  absence  of  the  Chaplain  he  would 
assume  part  of  his  duties,  and  supply  the  regiment  with  all 
the  reading  matter  and  stationery  the  Christian  Commission 
could  furnish  him.  In  this  way  he  was  an  ardent  friend 
and  supporter  of  the  Christian  Commission,  and  the  repre 
sentatives  of  the  Commission  believe  him  to  be  more  than  au 
ordinary  working  Christian.  He  seldom  become  angry,  bv.l 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  85 

when  lie  did  his  Christian  temper  would  become  somewhat 
ruffled. 

Lieutenant  S.  A.  DeWolf  was  above  middle  age.  and  a 

O     / 

resident  of  Gambler,  Licking  County,  and  a  man  noted  for 
piety,  and  Christian  integrity.  His  health  gave  way  soon 
after  entering  the  service,  and  after  every  effort  on  his  part 
to  arrest  disease,  he  was  compelled  to  resign  his  commission 
an  1  leave  the  service,  which  took  place  at  Bolivar,  Tenn. 

Sergeant  Humphrey  A.  McDonald,  of  "F"  company, 
was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant  and  assigned  to  Com 
pany  "  I."  He  was  a  young  man  of  liberal  attainments, 
and  very  good  education,  and  consistent  upright  character. 
He  was  afterwards  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  de 
tailed  as  A.  A.  A.  General  of  the  Second  Brigade,  Third 
Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  but  through  ill  health 
was  compelled  to  muster  out  at  Goldsboro,  K".  C.,  and  leave 
the  service.  .  When  he  was  first  promoted  to  Second  Lieu 
tenant  he  was  detailed  by  General  John  A.  Logan,  as  A.  A. 
Q.  M.  of  the  Pioneer  Corps,  Third  Division,  and  subse 
quently  assisted  Lieutenant  J.  T.  Story  in  the  command  of 
Company  "  C."  At  Yicksburg,  in  December,  1863,  he  was 
appointed  Regimental  Recruiting  Officer,  to  superintend  the 
enlistment  of  veterans,  which  position  he  filled  with  honor 
to  himself  and  credit  to  the  regiment.  Lieutenant  William 
H.  Hessin  was  promoted  to  Captain,  Sergeant  David  M. 
Watson  to  First  Lieutenant,  and  Sergeant  Simon  P.  Joy,  of 
"  D  "  company  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  Com 
pany  "  I."  All  noble  young  men,  good  and  efficient  officers 
and  exemplary  in  conduct;  and  returned  to  their  friends 
with  characters  better  framed  and  steeled  against  temptation. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  non-commissioned  officers 
and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization  : 

SERGEANTS. 

1.  David  M.  Watson,  3.  Daniel  Watt, 

2.  Angus  Falconer,  4.  Geo.  W.  Chandler, 

5.  Robert  Scott. 


86 


HISTORY   OF  THE 


CORPORALS. 


1.  Harmon  "W.  Brown, 

2.  Daniel  S.  }*oble, 

3.  Thos.  McKenzie, 

4.  John  Hall, 


5.  John  Baker, 

6.  Daniel  Mclntosh, 

7.  Andrew  McPherson, 

8.  Albert  Glenn. 


Jacob  H.  Arter,  1st  Musician,David  McLain,  2d  Musician, 
Joseph  Wilson,  Wagoner. 


PRIVATES. 


Adams,  William  J. 
Axe,  Lorenzo 
Adams,  Matthew  W. 
Abbot,  Robert 
Brown,  Amos 
Baker,  Thomas 
Butler,  Eli 
Baker,  Gideon  II. 
Cole,  Oscar 
Cole,  Thomas 
Charters,  William 
Cams,  George  W. 
Cameron,  William  T. 
Dorwart,  Henry 
Dobson,  Henry 
Drcnnan,  Ezekiel  G. 
Daws,  Plimpton 
Darison,  John 
Ehrhart,  Reuben 
Freed,  Milton 
Gamble,  Thomas 
Gamble,  George 
Gamble,  Alfred 
Giles,  Henry 
Harkins,  Thomas  G. 
Hilman,  David  H. 
Hampshire,  Henry 
Hollinger,  Jacob 


Hanna,  George 
Hessin,  William  II. 
Jackson,  Thomas  C. 
Kelley,  David 
Kerns,  Richard 
Lounsbury,  Franklin  A, 
McBane,  William 
Mclntosh,  Evan 
Mclntosh,  Andrew 
Mclntosh,  John 
Morrison,  John  H. 
Marlnec,  Andrew 
McKenzie,  John  P. 
Mclntosh,  Laughlin 
McLain,  Daniel 
Mclntosh,  John  F. 
Mendell,  William 
McMullin,  Archibald 
McCord,  George 
Poorman,  John  F. 
Powers,  Morrison 
Roach,  Abner  M, 
Redick,  Cummins  C. 
Spellman,  Charles 
Steel,  George  W. 
Sprinkle,  David  W. 
Starr,  Thomas  C. 
Smith,  William  M. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  87 

Vanfossan,  William  P.  Withers,  George 

Western,  John  A.  Willis,  James  B. 

Wilson,  John  W.  Wright,  Daniel 

Wilson,  Hiram  Wagoner,  Joseph 

The  following  named  men  re-enlisted  as  veteran  volun 
teers  at  Vickaburg,  Miss.,  January  5th,  1864: 

Mathow  W.  Adams,  Andrew  McPherson, 

Isaac  'Hurback,  John  Mclntosh, 

John  Baker,  William  S.  Mendell, 

John  Clunk,  John  1*.  McKenzie, 

I>limpton  Daws,  .Daniel  McLain, 

Henry  B.  Dolson,  Andrew  Mclntosh, 

Anguish  Falconer,  Thomas  Clinton  Starr, 

Thomas  Gamble,  Philip  Smith, 

He  my  Giles,  David  W.  Sprinkle, 

< -i eorge  Ilarma,  George  W.  Steel, 

John  IL  Morrison,  William  C.  Tenlcy, 
John  A.  Weston. 

The  following  named  enlisted  men,  substitutes  and  drafted 

men   have   been  added  to  the  company  since  its  original 
organization: 

llcorge  Andrews,  Michael  J.  Hawk, 

John  Cable,  Michael  W.  Hawk, 

Caleb  Caldwell,  Theodore  Jackson, 

John  Derr,  Peter  Jones, 

Nathaniel  Darst,  Cassius  M.  Jcffres, 

John  Densil,  Joseph  Johnson, 

John  Dane,  Ezekial  Johnson, 

William  F.  Echerd,  Squire  Johnson, 

Billingsy  Teaser,  John  II.  Kaufman, 

William  Francis,  John  C  Keaney, 

Joseph  Gardner,  Jocsph  Krank, 

Xehemiah  Groves,  Massenberg  Lynch, 

Bowen  Gilkey,  William  Lister, 

Hiram  Hall,  Joseph  Lancaster, 

Ethel  Henry,  Henry  Luyster, 

Michael  Hetsel,  Jacob  Lamb, 


88  HISTOllY   OF   THE 

Edward  Miller,  Henry  Smith, 

Philip  Mary,  Moses  Shoemaker, 

John  Moser,  John  Smith, 

Thomas  B.  McCarty,  Philip  Thomas, 

Emmil  Marx,  James  Thaxton, 

John  Mclntire,  Isaac  Taylor, 

Richard  McPeek,  Simon  Tickers, 

Christopher  Mosier,  William  II.  Williamson, 

Henry  Mance,  Harmon  W.  Brown,  volunt'r 

"William  McBane,  Evan  Mclntosh,                 u 

Abel  S.  Newton,  John  W.  Davidson,           " 

James  M.  Rowland,  Morrison  Powers,              " 

John  M.  Patterson,  Zaehariah  Bucklew,          " 

Edward  Rose,  William  McBain,              " 

Robert  Roland,  John  Davidson,                  " 

George  II.  Rahes,  Daniel  Noble, 

George  0.  Reedcr,  George  Snift, 

Samuel  Smith,  Albert  Glenn, 

Timothy  Sheppard,  George  Hall, 

The  following  have  been  discharged  for  disability  : 

L.  C.  Axe,  David  Kelley, 

Gideon  II.  Baker,  Archibald  McMullen, 

Amos  Brown,  D.  B.  McLain, 

Thomas  Baker,  D.  T.  Mclntosh, 

Zachariah  Buckler,  T.  P.  McKenzic, 

Thomas  Coie,  Daniel  S.  Noble, 

William  T.  Cameron,  John  F.  Poorman, 

Oscar  Cole,  George  Swift, 

George  W.  Carnes,  Charles  Spellman, 

John  Davidson,  Joseph  Wagner, 

Henry  Dorwart,  John  W.  Wilson, 

John  Davidson,  Joseph  Wilson, 

Henry  Downard,  Samuel  W.  Wright, 

Reuben  Ehrhart,  George  Withers. 

The  following  have  died  of  disease : 
Eli  Butler,  Crump's  Landing,  Tcnn.,  March  25th,  1862. 
Jacob  Hollinger,  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  April  12th,  1862. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    T.    V.    I.  89 

Benjamin  Butler,  camp  Shiloli,  Tenn.,  April  30th,  1862. 
William  Charters,  camp  Shiloh,  Tenn.,  May  9th,  1862. 
Robert  Scott,  Cincinnati,  0.,  May  31st,  1862. 
John  II.  Davidson,  Paducah,  Ky.,  April  18th,  1863. 
Goorge  Gamble,  Jackson,  Tenn.,  June  28th,  1862. 
Laughlin  Macintosh,  Vicksburg,  August  24th,  1863. 
James  I).  Willis,  Boaufort,  S.  C.,  January  — ,  1865. 
Jlenry  Hampshire,  Hiram  Wilson, 

Thomas  B.  McCarty. 

TRANSFERRED  TO  INVALID  CORPS. 

George  W.  Chowder,  Frank  Lonsberry, 

Ezckial  S.  Drennan,  Cummins  C.  Roddick, 

Albert  Glenn,  William  Smith, 

John  Hall, 

KILLED  IN  BATTLE. 

Andrew  M.  Roach,  Champion  Hills,  May  16th,  1863. 
John  Mclntosh,  "  "         "         "         « 

Thomas  C.  Starr,  Kcnesaw  Mountain,  June  15th,  1864, 
Daniel  II.  Watt,  Atlanta,  July  22d,  1864. 

Andrew  McPhcrson,  promoted  to  Sergeant-Major. 


COMPANY  Iv. 

AYas  raised  in  Muskingum,  Monroe,  Bclmont  and  Xoble 
Counties,  by  John  AY.  Cornyn,  of  Zanesville,  and  organized 
January  llth,  1862.  John  AY.  Cornyn  was  appointed  Cap 
tain,  John  T.  Hamilton  First  Lieutenant,  and  James  Car- 
others  Second  Lieutenant.  The  company  was  made  up  of 
strong,  robust  men.  This  company  had  more  foreigners  in 
it  than  any  other  company  in  the  regiment;  owing  to  the 
fact,  perhaps,  that  the  Captain  was  a  Catholic,  many  of  his 
persuasion  enlisted  with  him  to  assist  in  crushing  rebellion, 
and  punish  treason  in  the  country  of  their  adopted  homes. 

The  company  did  good  and  faithful  service,  and  suffered 
severely  during  the  Avar,  taking  a  part  in  all  the  campaigns 
and  battles  of  the  regiment. 

The  Captain  was  a  hard   worker,  a  man  full  of  energy 
and  life,  and  has  had  much  experience  in  the  management 
of  men,  especially  foreigners,  as  he  was  a  long  time  a  rail 
road  contractor. 

lie  was  a  very  agreeable,  social,  pleasant  companion, 
somewhat  impulsive  in  character,  he  was  quick  to  act,  and 
readily  discerned  the  minds  of  men. 

He  served  with  his  company  till  February,  1863,  when  he 
was  appointed  Captain  and  Commisary  of  Subsistence,  and 
assigned  to  General  Ewing's  staff. 

Lieutenant  John  AY.  Hamilton,  on  account  of  ill  health 
resigned  his  commission,  August  20th,  1862. 

He  was  a  quiet  unassuming  man  and  against  his  moral 
character  we  know  nothing. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  91 

Lieutenant  James  Carotliers  was  taken  prisoner  a  few 
days  after  the  battle  of  Raymond,  Missisippi.  lie  and 
Captain  Wallar  were  taken  suddenly  sick  during  the  pro 
gress  of  the  Raymond  battle.  Wallar  did  not  return  to  the 
regiment  until  Yieksburg  was  invested,  which  was  some 
ten  days,  and  his  company  having  been  in  three  fights  during 
that  time.  Carotliers  being  at  a  citizen's  house,  was  carried 
off  by  the  guerrillas  and  taken  to  Libby  Prison,  where 
he  remained  for  about  fifteen  months. 

Lieutenant  Hugh  Dunne  was  promoted  to  Captain,  and 
assigned  to  Company  "Iv,"  March  12th,  1864. 

He  brought  the  company  home,  with  the  regiment,  on 
veteran  furlough  and  after  returning  to  the  field  it  did  much 
-efficient  service  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  Captain  Dunne 
resigned  shortly  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  his  time  had  almost  expired,  and  the  press  of 
business  at  home. 

James  Brennan  of  "C"  Company,  was  promoted  to  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  June  9th,  1803,  and  assigned  to  "K"  Com 
pany.  In  April  1864,  he  was  dishonorably  mustered  out  of 
service  on  account  of  intemperance. 

Lieutenant  George  A\r.  Porter  was  promoted  to  Captain, 
and  assigned  to  "K"  Company,  December  15th,  1864,  but 
being  an  officer  of  marked  ability,  he  still  remained  on  Gen 
eral  Leggett's  staff  as  Aid-de-Camp. 

II.  TVr.  McCarty,  Sergeant  of  "E"  Company,  was  promo 
ted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  "K"  Company. 

John  Kennedy,  Sergeant-Major  of  the  regiment,  was  pro 
moted  to  Second  Lieutenant,  and  assigned  to  this  company 
also.  Xo  other  changes  were  made  in  the  officers  till  the 
muster  out  of  the  regiment, 

Under  these  young  officers  the  company  was  orderly  and 
efficient  in  drill. 

II.  AY.  McCarty  had  been  a  very  efficient  Sergeant  and 
promised  being  a  good  and  useful  officer. 

The  following  were  the  names  of  the  non-commissioned 
officers  and  enlisted  men  of  the  original  organization : 


92 


HISTORY    OF   THE 


SERGEANTS. 

1.  J.  B.  Thompson,  3.  D.  W.  McDaniel, 

2.  E.  Belong,  4.  IL  Hacket, 

5.  Charles  Billmaii. 
CORPORALS. 

1.  James  Gallagher,  5.  Thomas  McCusker, 

2.  "William  E.  Bostwick,          6.  Patrick  Harvey, 
8.  Joseph  Jeffers,  7.  William  Belong, 
4.  James  M.  Dillon,  8.  William  Poulton. 
Henry  C.  Roush,  1st.  Musi c'n, John  Morrison,  2nd  Music'n, 

John  Hodgell,  Wragoner. 
PRIVATES. 


Antill,  William 
Burkhart,  John 
Barnes,  William  E. 
Brown,  Thomas  F. 
Brown,  Michael 
Bowman,  Samuel 
Coon,  Peter 
Clark,  Isaac 
Carothers,  Thomas 
Belong,  Thomas 
Billen,  William 
Billen,  Thomas 
Benbow,  William 
Benbow,  James 
Denbow,  John 
Denbow,  Martin 
Benbow,  Bazzel 
English,  Edward 
Fracker,  Frank 
Fordyce,  Samuel 
Floyd,  Aaron 
Gallagher,  Edmund 
Gray,  Henry 
Gray,  Enoch 


Gray,  George 
Giesey,  Samuel 
Greenbank,  John 
Godfrey,  Francis 
Iliginbotom,  Ezra 
Horn,  Adam 
Hacket,  William 
Hays,  Robert 
Hays,  Henry 
Hunt,  Burr 
Hoffman,  Conrid 
Ilenthorn,  Ellis 
Jeffers,  Joseph 
Jeffers,  John 
Jeffers,  Pias 
Jeffers,  Joseph,  jr. 
Jackson,  Foster 
Jordin,  William 
Jordin,  Thomas 
Kadatz,  Ludwig 
Keiger,  Jacob 
Lumbattus,  George 
McConaughy,  Daniel 
McConaughy,  Hugh 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  93 

McConaughy,  Jesse  Reed,  Hiram 

Meintel,  Leo  Bobbins,  Swazy 

Mott,  Menander  Slack,  James 

Morris,  John  Slack,  Elisha 

Myrick,  My  rick  Snydcr,  Uylston 

McCammon,  Frederick  Scott,  John  W. 

Xewhart,  Frederick  Sottoii,  James 

Xorris,  John  Tidd,  William 

Xorville,  Paton  Tompkins,  Jam* 

Poulston,  Levi  Wagoner,  Isaac 

Faith,  David  Winland,  Chark 

rotts,  James  II.  Waters,  Roderic 

Rapp,  John  Yockey.  Henry 

DRAFTED    AND    SUBSTITUTES. 

Armstrong,  Samuel,  drafted. 

Adams,  Charles,  " 

Amnos,  Charter  R.,         u 

Aler,  James,  " 

Bruce,  Washington,        " 

Carter,  William, 

Coon,  Eli, 

Ciafitz,  Jacob  II., 

Clarkson,  Samuel, 

Cade,  Thomas  J.,  drafted — discharged  for  disability, 

Canny,  Elmer  II.,       « 

Calhoun,  Henry  X.,    " 

Denbow,  Levi,  " 

Daugherty,  Thomas,  " 

Dyer,  Joshua,  substitute. 

Deckard,  Enoch  R.,  drafted. 

Ditzler,  Daniel  E.,  drafted — died  of  disease  in  hospital. 

Davis,  Pleasant  W.,  drafted. 

Faulkner,  Paul,  drafted — died  of  disease  in  hospital. 

(ileason,  Joseph,  drafted — died  of  disease  in  camp. 

GofE,  Solomon,  drafted. 

Gill,  Daniel, 

Hooper,  John  II.,    " 


04  HISTORY    OF   TUB 

ITolley,  James  L.,  drafted. 

llarnley,  Levi,  drafted — drowned  in  Tar  river,  North  Caro 
lina,  May  1st,  1865. 

Jay,  Harrison  "YV.,  drafted — died  of  disease  in  hospital. 

Jones,  Leander  M.,       " 

Linard,  John,  •  " 

Lindon,  William,          " 

Meek,  David,  substitute, 

Medic,  James,  drafted. 

Massie,  Robert,         " 

McWhorter,  "William,  drafted. 

Mosier,  Joseph,  substitute. 

Newman,  Samuel,  drafted. 

Pendell,  David, 

.Peart,  John,  " 

To  well,  William  II.,    « 

Phillips,  Solomon,        " 

Purdy,  Lemuel,  substitute. 

Swaim,  Nathan  S.,  drafted. 

Smith,  Anthony,  " 

Spangler,  John,  " 

Thompson,   Thomas,  drafted — killed  by  lightning,   March 
loth,  1865. 

•  Welftey,  George  F.,  drafted — discharged  for  disability. 

Ward,  Joel,  drafted — died  of  disease. 

Weir,  George,  drafted. 

Wilson,  James,        " 

Tats,  Jacob,  " 

Young,  McKensie,  " 

Those  after  whom  no  remarks  are  placed,  were  mustered 

out  of  service  June  30th,  1865,  in  accordance  with  instruc 
tions  from  War  Department. 


THE  DISPOSITION  AXD  CHANGES  IX  THE  FIELD. 

COMMISSIONED   AND   NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 

Colonel  M.  D.  Leggett  remained  but  a  few  months  with 
the  regiment.  It  was  soon  ascertained  by  superior  com 
manders  that  he  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability 
and  energy;  an  untiring  and  indefatigable  worker,  and 
completely  successful  in  everything  lie  undertook.  When 
any  difficult  work  was  to  be  performed — some  rebel  en 
campment  to  b£  broken  up,  and  rcconnoisance  to  be  made- 
Colonel  Leggett  with  his  regiment  was  usually  called  upon 
to  execute  it ;  and  we  do  not  recollect  of  a  single  instance 
wherein  he  failed  to  accomplish  the  work  or  duty  assigned 
him.  Entire  satisfaction  was  always  given,  and  congratu 
latory  orders  issued  by  superior  commanding  officers.  I 
presume  no  officer  in  the  army  has  received  more  compli 
mentary  notices  for  efficient  service. 

The  regiment  at  times,  when  tired  and  worn  down  under 
the  constant  strain  of  active  duty,  complained,  and  would 
have  preferred  a  commander  of  less  energy  and  reputation, 
under  whom  they  supposed  less  duty  would  be  required  of 
them. 

Colonel  Leggett  understood  the  nature  of  the  Southern 
people,  and  from  the  commencement  of  the  wan,  he  had  a 
proper  conception  of  its  magnitude  and  character ;  not  be 
lieving  his  views  at  the  time,  we  were  always  afterwards 
convinced  of  their  correctness,  when  applied  to  the  test  ot 
experience.  lie  knew  that  to  crush  the  rebellion  would  re 
quire  every  resource  of  military  energy  and  ability,  to  sue- 


06  HISTORY   OF   THE 

cessfully  meet  its  desperation  and  violence.  Its  suppression 
would  only  be,  —  as  we  have  fully  ascertained  by  four 
years' fighting  —  by  hard  work,  heavy  lighting  and  sacri 
fice  of  life.  Therefore  he  did  not  bring  a  full  regiment  of 
strong,  robust  men  into  the  field,  to  lie  about  idle  in  camps, 
doing  police  and  provost  duty.  His  place  was  the  front,  as 
far  to  the  front,  and  as  near  the  enemy  as  possible;  this  has 
always  been  the  position  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment. 
In  the  summer  of  1863,  Colonel  Leggett  was  in  command  ot 
the  Second  Brigade,  General  Ross'  Division,  and  the  winter 
following  was  made  a  Brigadier-General  of  United  States 
Volunteers.  He  remained  in  command  of  the  Ohio  Bri^- 

o 

ade  till  during  the  seige  of  Vicksburg,  when  he  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  First  Brigade. 

In  the  autumn  of  1863,  General  John  A.  Logan  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  and 
was  succeeded  by  General  Leggett,  in  the  Third  Division, 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  in  which  command  he  remained 
till  the  close  of  the  war,  and  frequently  duriftg  the  last  year, 
commanded  both  the  Corps  and  Division.  He  felt  too  proud 
of  the  record  of  the  Third  Division,  to  even  take  a  higher 
parmanent  commission.  Early  in  1865,  he  was  brevetted  a 
.Alajor-General  in  honor  for  distinguished  services.  When 
the  "  Army  of  the  Tennessee "  was  mustered  out  of  tluj 
service,  no  one  retired  to  civi  life,  with  a  brighter  record, 
and  a  name  more  fondly  cherished  and  honored. 

BERRY   F.    HAWKS 

Was  a  citizen  of  !S"orwalk,  Ohio,  and  through  some  influ 
ence  brought  to  bear  on  the  Governor,  was  appointed 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  assigned  to  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment.  Being  a  stranger  to  it,  caused  some  little  oppo 
sition  to  his  appointment,  but  upon  acquaintance  nil  feeling 
upon  the  subject  subsided  :  he  met  with  approval  and  favor. 
His  connection  with  the  regiment  was  of  short  duration. 
At  Fort  Donelson  he  had  a  severe  attack  of  the  fever,  and 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  in  a  low 
weeks  was  permitted  to  go  to  his  home,  but  never  sufhV- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  97 

iently  recovered  his  health  to  warrant  his  return  to  the 
active  duties  of  the  field.  He  consequently  resigned  his 
commission  some  months  afterwards. 

MAJOR   D.    P.    CARNAIIAN 

Was  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
He  gave  up  his  high  position,  and  was  relieved  from  jjhis 
congregation.  He  aided  materially  in  raising  the  regiment, 
.by  visiting  different  parts  of  the  counties  where  recruiters 
were  at  work,  raising  companies  for  the  regiment.  By  the 
influence  of  his  somewhat  eloquent  speeches  many  were 
induced  to  enlist  in  the  service  of  their  country,  and  join 
the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment. 

The  Major  entered  upon  the  work  with  great  energy,  and 
was  well  respected  by  all  in  the  command.  In  the  summer 
of  1862  a  difficulty  arose  between  the  Major  and  other  field 
oilicers,  the  history  of  which  would  take  pages  to  relate, 
and  not  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader.  Between  Chaplain 
Todd  and  the  Major  unhappy  differences  arose;  no  oil  of 
conciliation  could  allay  or  arrest  the  agitation.  Who  was 
in  the  wrong  we  do  not  attempt  to  decide;  we  were  only 
indifferent  spectators  to  the  controversy,  but  by  an  over 
whelming  force  Chaplain  Todd  gained  the  victory,  having 
the  most  and  heaviest  guns  on  his  parapet. 

The  Major  wisely  came  to  the  conclusion,  after  some 
month's  deliberation,  that  he  could  serve  his  country  better, 
and  do  more  good  by  retiring  from  the  service,  which  ho 
did  at  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  and  returned  to  Dayton,  Ohio, 
and  resumed  his  former  avocation.  The  Major's  politics 
were  not  regarded  sound,  being  hostile  to  the  administra 
tion  and  a  warm  admirer  of  Yallandigham.  This  gave 
rise  to  many  of  the  troubles  and  opposition  to  him  on  the 
part  of  some  of  the  field  officers. 

SURGEON  JAMES   S.   REEVES 

Was  a  resident  physician  of  extensive  practice,  of  McCon- 
nelsville,  and  served  faithfully  to  the  end  of  the  war.    As  a 

7 


98  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Surgeon,  his  reputation  stands  among  the  highest.  He 
stands  as  high  as  any  we  have  known  in  the  army.  His 
long  practice  and  close  attention  to  "business  made  him  a 
veteran  in  the  management  of  diseases  common  to  the 
army.  His  extensive  practice  in  surgery  made  him  a  vcrv 
skillful,  scientific  and  successful  operator,  so  that  he  was 
sought  for  in  difficult  operations.  He  successful^  per 
formed  some  of  the  most  difficult  in  the  army,  and  known 
in  the  art  of  surgery.  Being  a  man  of  close  attention  to 
business,  and  having  a  good  business  tact,  a  man  of  prompt 
ness,  energy,  and  correctness  in  everything  he  did,  who 
did  all  in  perfect  harmony  with  "red  tape,"  made  him 
very  popular  with  high  officers.  His  reputation,  therefore, 
called  him  away  from  the  regiment  to  hospitals,  and  other 
places  requiring  ability  and  skill.  During  the  last  year  of 
his  service,  he  was  Surgeon-in-Chief  of  the  Third  Division, 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  which  position  he  filled  with 
entire  satisfaction  to  General  Leggett,  and  the  officers  of 
the  Division. 

When  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Surgeon  of  the 
regiment  he  encountered  much  opposition.  Unhappy 
feelings  and  difficulties  arose  between  him  and  the  Assis 
tant-Surgeon,  S.  C.  Mendenhall.  The  regiment  took  issue 
in  favor  of  the  Assistant-Surgeon.  This  arose  in  part  from 
mistakes  in  the  natural  disposition  of  the  men,  and  a  non- 
acquaintance  with  the  skill  and  attainments  of  both. 
But  when  both  had  been  applied  to  the  test  of  experience 
opposition  to  Major  Reeves,  to  a  great  extent  subsided, 
and  many  of  his  most  bitter  enemies  became  his  most 
ardent  friends. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  war  the  medical  department 
was  very  imperfectly  managed,  and  men  everywhere  des 
titute  of  experience,  and  the  whole  army  not  inured  to 
the  service,  the  climate  and  exposures  of  field  and  camp 
life,  necessarily  caused  more  sickness,  and  a  greater  amount 
of  mortality  than  in  the  latter  part  of  the  war.  Thi* 
excited  some  ill-feelings  towards  surgeons,  because  they 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  99 

were  not  successful  in  curing  disease,  and  preventing  death. 
Major  Reeves  had  much  opposition  to  contend  with, 
arising  from  these  circumstances,  which  were  beyond  the 
control  of  any  surgeon  or  army  commandents.  Men 
would  frequently  he  sent  to  hospitals,  or  convalescent 
<'amps;  when  once  there,  they  pass  from  the  hands  of 
the  regimental  surgeons,  into  the  hands  of  those  detailed 
to  take  charge  of  such  hospitals  and  convalescent  camps. 
If  a  man  died  at  one  of  the  places  away  from  his  regiment, 
the  Surgeon  of  the  regiment  was  frequently  charged  with 
neglect,  and  held  hy  friends  as  partially  accountable  for  his 
death;  all  arising  from  mistaken  notions  of  army  divisions, 
and  details  in  its  system  of  management.  When  thees 
things  become  better  undcastood  by  the  people,  opposition 
and  bad  feeling  towards  surgeons  ceased  in  a  measure ;  and 
surgeons  as  well  as  the  people  became  better  acquainted  with 
with  their  duties;  and  understood  the  treatment  of  disease 
in  the  army  much  better,  and  become  therefore  much  more 
successful.  All  these  elements  of  opposition  were  brought 
to  bear  against  Surgeon  Reeves.  But  he  out-lived  them 
all,  and  vindicated  himself  by  skillful  practice,  from  all 
censure,  and  false  accusation.  Although  his  disposition 
is  an  unhappy  one,  and  of  many  peculiarities,  yet  he  made 
a  bright  record  in  the  army,  and  leaves  it  with  a  high 
reputation  as  a  skillful  physician  and  surgeon. 

CHAPLAIN   0.    M.    TODD 

Was  a  resident  of  Kew  Lisbon,  Ohio,  and  pastor  of  tlte 
Presbyterian  Church  of  that  place.  He  took  a  very  active 
interest  in  raising  the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment,  making 
recruiting  speeches  throughout  his  county,  soliciting  volun 
teers,  and  with  much  success.* 

He  entered  upon  his  duties  as  chaplain,  when  the  regi 
ment  was    stationed  at   Camp    Gilbert,  Zanesville,  Ohio. 
He  was  a  man  of  rather  more  than  ordinary  ability ;  good,  ' 
close,   practical  preacher.    After    the   regiment    left    tha 
State  there  was  little    opportunity  for  divine  service    of 

•  See  Companj  "  I. " 


100  HISTORY   OE   THE 

any  kind,  the  regiment  being  almost  constantly  on  the 
move.  The  Chaplain  was  charged  with  neglecting  the 
sick,  hut  this  amounts  to  hut  little;  every  person  was 
blamed  merely  because  circumstances  existed  beyond  the 
control  of  any  one.  Men  could  not  work  miracles  and 
save  people  from  disease  and  the  grave,  in  this  age  of  the* 
world;  and  that  too  when  a  war  that  excited  the  civilized 
world  was  raging  all  over  our  territory. 

The  Chaplain  and  Surgeon  were  frequently  in  conflict, 
and  bitter  feelings  existed.  It  is  a  rare  thing  for  surgeons 
and  chaplains  to  agree-;  the  surgeon  being  very  sensitive 
in  reference  to  any  supposed  interference  wilh  the  duties 
of  the  medical  department,  which  sometimes  takes  in  n 
very  wide  range,  and  again  becomes  quite  limited,  just 
in  proportion  as  responsibilities  are  involved. 

The  chaplain  on  the  other  luind  is  an  independent, 
character,  who  considers  it  his  business  to  be  somewhat 
meddlesome,  inasmuch  as  his  position  is  one  that  has  to  d<> 
with  all  duties  rather  than  with  any  particular  one;  there 
fore  what  lie  regards  his  duty  frequently  is  regarded  a:i 
impertinence  and  interference,  on  the  part  of  others. 
Chaplain  Todd,  suffered  nuuh  from  ill-health,  and  not 
willing  longer  to  subject  himself  to  the  hardships  of  ti'j-.> 

O  O  «'  1 

service,  and  enter  upon  the  campaigns  just  opening  before 
the  regiment,  lie  resigned  the  chaplaincy  December,,  1862. 

ADJUTANT   JOILX    E.    JEWETT 

Is  a  son  of  H.  J.  Jewctt,  of  Zanesville,  a  man  of  consider 
able  wealth  and  influence.  The  Adjutant  had  been  in 
the  "  Three  Month's  Service, "  which  gave  him  an  experi 
ence  that  made  him  useful  in  the  regiment.  lie  was  quite 
a  fast  young  man,  a  good  type  of  Young  America;  social, 
pleasant  and  popular  with  all;  liberal  and  generous  to  a. 
fault.  He  was  completely  master  of  his  business,  and  man 
aged  that  part  of  the  regiment  with  considerable  ability; 
lie  served  with  the  regiment  less  than  a  year,  when  ha 
was  promoted  to  a  Captain  of  Volunteers,  assigned  to  tlis 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V."  V."l.  101 

Corps  of  Aids-de-Camp,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Major- 
General  McDowell,  then  in  Virginia. 

QUARTERMASTER. 

Lieutenant  John  C.  Douglas,  of  Cambridge,  Guernsey 
County,  Ohio,  was  appointed  to  this  position,  and  managed 
it  with  much  ability  and  acceptance.  He  had  long  been 
superintendent  of  the  public  schools  of  Cambridge,  and 
editor  and  proprietor  of  the  principal  publication  of  that 
t;>wn  and  county.  He  finally  succeeded  in  making  the 
"Guernsey  Times''  one  of  the  most  successful  and  patriotic 
orirans  extant  in  the  interests  of  the  Government. 

<^ 

When  Le^ctt  received  the  appointment  of  Brigadicr- 
(' General,  Lieutenant  Douglas  was  promoted  to  Captain  of 
United  States  Volunteers,  and  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
to  General  Lcggett.  Upon  General  Leggett's  appointment 
to  Brevet  Major-General,  Captain  Douglas  was  promoted 
to  the  fall  rank  of  Major,  and  breveted  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Tie  served  with  General  Leggett  to  the  close  of  the  war 
nud  the  muster  out  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  lie 
was  regarded  one  of  the  most  prompt,  correct  and  efficient 
Adjutant  Generals  in  the  Corps.  The  business  of  his 
department  cf  the  Division  was  not  permitted  to  lie  and 
mould  in  the  pigeon  holes  of  his  desk,  as  is  too  often  the 
case,  but  was  always  attended  to  promptly,  and  satisfacto 
rily.  He  is  a  man  of  calm,  sober,  solid  thought;  stern, 
prompt  execution,  quick  apprehension,  and  a  mind  that 
grasped  consequences  with  readiness.  Satisfactory  and. 
clear  in.  explanation,  but  not  the  most  patient  and  for 
bearing  with  those  of  duller  apprehension,  and  who 
could  not  see  all  things  as  he  did. 

ASSISTANT    SURGEON. 

S.  C.  Mendenhall,  was  a  citizen  of  Frazeysburg,  Mns- 
kingum  County,  Ohio,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made 
in  connection  with  the  Surgeon  of  the  regiment.  He 
served  with  the  regiment  but  a  few  months,  having  fallen 
a  victim  to  the  malaria  of  the  South,  which  proved  so 


102  HISTORY    OF   THE 

disastrous  to  our  army  the  first  year  of  the  war,  he  resigned. 
After  remaining  at  home  a  few  months  and  regaining  his 
health,  he  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  Seventy-Sixth 
Ohio  Regiment,  where,  we  learn  he  djd  efficient  service,  and 
continued  with  his  regunent  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
"With  Surgeon  Mendenhall  we  have  no  acquaintance,  ex 
cept  the  few  months  he  served  with  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment,  but  know  that  he  is  regarded  .as  a  Surgeon  of 
very  good  attainments  and  fair  average  skill,  by  his  regi 
ment.  The  regiment  gave  him  a  wide  field  of  practice, 
being  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  of  General  Sherman. 
The  following  named  enlisted  men  were  appointed  on 
the  non-commissioned  staff  of  the  regiment : 

HOWARD    S.    ABBOTT,    SERGEANT-MAJOR, 

Who  was  somewhat  austere  in  his  demeanor,  but  a  good, 
faithful  and  efficient  officer.  lie  was  promoted  to  Adjutant, 
which  position  he  filled  till  the  battle  of  Champion  Hill's, 
when  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  he  fell,  a  rebel  ball 
having  entered  his  left  ear,  and  curnc  out  on  the  back  part 
of  his  neck.  He  was  supposed  to  be  dead  and  remained 
sometime  in  an  insensible  condition  on  the  field.  Those 
carrying  off  the  wounded  were  about  to  pass  him  by 
making  the  remark,  "poor  Adjutant  Abbott,  there  he 
lies,  killed,"  to  which  the  Adjutant  feebly  responded, 

having  heard  their  voices,  "  not  by   a  d d   sight. "     ITe 

was  then  carried  to  the  hospital,  where  for  many  days  his 
life  was  despaired  of.  The  Surgeon  by  the  most  careful 
and  skillful  treatment  succeeded  in  saving  his  life.  He  so 
far  recovered  as  to  be  able  to  go  to  his  home,  but  did  not 
recover  sufficiently  to  return  to  his  regiment  for  three  or 
four  months,  and  even  then  he  suffered  much  from  the 
effects  of  the  wound.  By  reason  of  so  long  an  abeence 
from  the  regiment,  he  was  honorably  mustered  out  by 
the  War  Department,  but  was  afterwards  appointed  a 
Captain,  which  he  promptly  declined,  for  the  reason  that 
he  was  not  first  "  reinstated. "  His  absence  was  no  fault 
of  his.  His  coolness,  courage  and  bravery  upon  the 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   I.  103 

field  merited  a  promotion  from  the  War  Department, 
rather  than  a  muster  out  of  service,  but  such  is  life  and 
the  ways  of  the  world.  The  most  deserving  and  merito 
rious  frequently  pass  unnoticed,  while  the  unworthy  reap 
honors,  though  stolen. 

HENRY   E.   BIGELOW 

Was  appointed  Quartermaster-Sergeant.  A  young  man 
of  fine  business  attainments,  as  he  afterwards  proved  by 
being  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  Quartermaster, 
vice  Douglas  promoted.  There  were  few  Regimental 
Quartermasters  in  the  corps  that  did  business  with  more 
promptness,  and  kept  the  accounts  and  papers  of  their 
department  more  correctly.  Though  quite  a  youth  in 
years,  he  was  old  in  judgment  and  executive  ability;  of 
generous,  pleasant  and  social  qualities,  but  very  indepen 
dent  and  decided  in  his  manners,  and  gentlemanly  in  his 
general  demeanor.  He  was  detailed  by  General  R.  K. 
Scott,  as  Acting  Assistant  Quartermaster,  Second  Brigade, 
Third  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  which  position 
he  filled  until  the  close  o.f  the  war  and  the  muster  out  of 
the  regiment.  In  February,  1865,  he  was  promoted  to 
Captain,  but  declined  to  be  mustered. 

WILLIAM    M.    SLEETH 

Was  appointed  Commissary  Sergeant,  of  whom  honorable 
mention  has  been  made  in  connection  with  Company  A; 
in  which  company  he  was  promoted  to  Second  Lieutenant 
and  afterwards  First,  and  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  conscientious  of  men; 
stirictly  honest  and  upright  in  every  thing  he  did.  After 
nearly  four  years  service,  he  is  free  from  the  least  blot 
upon  his  character;  and  never  a  fault  or  complaint  was 
made*,  or  heard  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 

CHARLES   RAPER 

Of  Putnam,  Ohio,  was  appointed  Bugler  and  chief  musi 
cian.  Under  him  the  regiment  had  a  band  not  sur 
passed  by  any  regiment  in  the  service;  His  health  having 


104  HISTORY   OF   THE 

failed  him  and  his  position  as  "  Chief  Musician "  having 
been  declared  by  the  War  Department  to  exist  no  longer 
throughout  the  entire  army,  he  was  therefore  honorably 
mustered  out  at  Lake  Providence,  Lousiana,  not  for 
getting  however,  after  the  steamer  on  which  he  took  pas 
sage  started  up  the  river,  to  deliver  a  farewell  address  to 
the  Brigade  by  blowing  on  the  bugle  the  " Jack- Ass-call ;'' 
a  favorite  piece  of  original  music  by  him. ' 
James  Ballinger  was  appointed  Fife-Major. 

Albert  J.  Farnum,  Drum-Major. 

Eli  J.  Coulson,  Hospital  Steward. 

He  was  a  physician  of  Pennsville,  Morgan  County,  and 
a  man  of  successful  and  extensive  practice.  Believing  it 
his  duty  to  give  his  service  to  his  country,  and  that  this 
could  best  be  done  by  taking  the  field,  he  therefore  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  "  E."  His  health  yielded  to  the 
hardships  incident  to  army  life,  and  the  debilitating  influ 
ence  of  a  malarious  climate,  which  caused  him  to  be 
mustered  out  of  the  service  in  a  few  months  after  the 
regiment  left  the  State.  He  afterwards  regained  his  health, 
and  raised  a  company  for  the  "  hundred  days  service,"  and 
went  out  as  its  Captain. 

SECTION  SECOND. 

A  considerable  change  now  takes  place  in  the  Field  and 
Staff.  Captain  Z.  M.  Chandler  was  promoted  to  Major  at 
Bolivar,  Tennessee,  and  afterwards  to  Lieutenant-Colonel. 
Mention  has  been  made  of  him  in  connection  with  Company 
B.  He  resigned  his  commission  near  Port  Gibson,  Mis 
sissippi. 

CaPTAIN  J.   T.   RAIKEY 

"Was  promoted  to  Major,  and  assumed  command  of  the 
regiment,  when  Z.  M.  Chandler  resigned.  He  commanded 
the  regiment  through  two  battles  within  three  days ;  that 
of  Eaymond  and  Jackson,  Misssissippi,  the  former  being 
one  of  its  hardest  fought  and  most  unexpected  battles. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   T.   Y.   I.  105 

Justice  licrc  demands  that  we  should  state  that  in  con 
sequence  of  General  Leggett's  absence,  Brigadier-General 
Dennis,  formerly  Colonel  of  the  Thirtieth  Illinois  Infantry, 
commanded  the  brigade  from  Milliken's  Bend,  Louisiana, 
until  after  the  battle  of  Jackson,  Mississippi..  During  this 
time  the  brigade  took  an  important  part  in  three  battles ; 
Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  and  Jackson,  Mississippi. 

The  battle  of  Raymond,  Miss.,  was  almost  exclusively 
fought  by  the  Second  Brigade,  composed  at  that  time 
of  the  Twentieth,  Sixty-Eighth,  and  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio, 
and  Thirtieth  Illinois  regiments,  commanded  by  General 
Dennis,  and  whipped  all  of  General  Claiborne's  (rebel) 
division.  At  this  time  General  Lcggett  returned,  and 
resumed  command  of  the  Second  Brigade,  and  General 
Dennis  was  ordered  by  General  McPherson  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  Sixth  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corp,-. 

J.    D.    VrOPJvMAX 

"Was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  but  remained  only  a  few 
weeks  with  the  regiment,  on  account  of  sickness,  and  did 
not  regain  his  health  sufficiently  to  resume  his  duties.  In 
June,  1862,  prior  to  this,  W.  Marrow  Beach,  of  London, 
Madison  County,  Ohio,  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon, 
and  remained  with  the  regiment  until  June,  1864,  when  lie 
was  promoted  to  full  Surgeon  and  assigned  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Ohio.  Surgeon  Beech  was  much 
respected  by  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio.  His  manner  was 
pleasant  and  friendly  —  very  kind  and  accommodating  to 
the  men,  which  prejudiced  the  regiment  very  much  in  his 
favor  —  always  cheerful  and  kind,  the  men  felt  at  ease  and 
at  home  in  his  company. 

E.    D.    FORREST 

Was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  vice  Workman  resigned. 
He  was  detailed  on  hospital  duty,  and  was  soon  detached 
from  the  regiment  and  assigned  elsewhere. 

GABRIEL   II.    HOLLAND 

Was  appointed  Hospital  Steward,  vice  Coulson  mustered 


106  HISTORY  OF   THE 

out.  lie  was  a  young  man  of  good  attainments,  always 
cheerful  and  mirthful.  He  discharged  his  duties  with  great 
acceptability  to  all.  On  the  22d  of  July  near  Atlanta  lie 
was  captured,  and  held  a  prisoner  for  several  months.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service  he  was  exchanged, 
and  shortly  afterwards  mustered  out.  Joseph  L.  Geyer  was 
then  appointed  Hospital  Steward,  having  been  for  nearly  a 
year  Dispenser  in  the  regiment.  He  was  a  true,  faithful, 
and  conscientiously  upright  man  in  all  the  duties  of  his 
position.  He  was  as  true  to  the  interests  of  the  Govern 
ment  in  the  economical  use  and  issue  of  medicines  as  a 
proprietor  of  his  own  drug  store. 


Was  appointed  Quartermaster-Sergeant,  and  William 
Heller,  Commissary-Sergeant,  both  distinguished  for  good 
and  accurate  business  talent.  The  former  was  discharged 
at  A'lcksburg,  for  disability,  and  the  latter  afterwards 
detailed  as  Clerk  in'  the  Third  Division  Commissary;  his 
term  of  three  years  having  expired,  he  was  mustered  out, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1865  was  appointed  sutler  of  the 
regiment. 

This  brings  us  to  the  Field  and  Staff  of  the  present 
organization,  and  continues  without  much  change  until  the 
muster  out  of  the  regiment. 

LIEUTEXAXT-COLOXEL   WILES 

(See  Companies  B  and  C  for  more  specific  account,)  was 
promoted  from  Captain,  and  took  command  of  the  regiment 
on  the  morning  of  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills.  Under 
him  it  became  the  best  drilled  and  most  orderly  regiment  of 
the  corps,  and,  without  doubt,  the  best  in  the  "Western 
army.  Its  superior  discipline  and  high  moral  character  was 
observed  by  all,  so  that  it  became  known  as  the  "Mpdel 
Regiment."  The  Colonel,  well  knowing  that  morality  was 
one  of  the  chief  qualities  held  in  request  for  a  good,  orderly 
regiment,  neglected  no  means  for  this  attainment.  He 
therefore  gave  every  encouragement  to  the  Chaplain,  and 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  107 

attendance  on  the  part  of  the  men  to  divine  services  on 
the  Sabbath.  He  always  attended  himself,  and  usually  led 
the  singing.  His  example  in  this  respect  had  a  decided 
influence,  so  that  the  regiment  generally  attended  preaching 
on  the  Sabbath,  while  some  other  Chaplains  complained 
bitter] v  that  their  regiments  neglected  this  duty;  so  that 
maiiv  bad  to  abandon  all  efforts  to  get  congregations.  AVe 
seldom  ever  preached  to  a  small  congregation,  and  when 
others  preached  for  us,  they  were  surprised  at  the  large 
co'n irrigations  that  turned  out,  when  compared  with  other 
regiments. 

The  Colonel  seldom  ever  was  compelled  to  inflict  punish 
ment,  but  when  necessary,  it  was  severe;  he  was  rigid  in 
discipline,  yet  kind  in  reformatory.  Men  most  generally 
went  from  under  punishment  convinced  that  it  was  right, 
and  seldom  gave  manifestations  of  malignant  feelings 'in 
consequence.  "We  have  seldom  seen  them  going  away  with 
feelings  of  revenge.  Y\lien  going  from  under  arrest  a  few 
kind  words  from  the  Colonel  would  satisfy  them  that  it  was 
for  their  good,  and  the  best  interest  of  the  regiment. 

The  Colonel  was  always  uniform  in  his  demeanor,  and 
polite  in  his  manner  of  dealing  with  men  and  measures; 
never  excited;  no  storm  or  adverse  winds  agitated  the 
surface  of  his  life. 

At  the  battle  of  the  22d  of  July,  in  front  of  Atlanta,  he 
commanded  the  brigade  with  great  ability;  his  coolness, 
courage  and  freeness  from  excitement,  inspired  the  men 
with  a  courage  and  bravery  the  most  remarkable  and 
praiseworthy  in  the  history  of  the  war.  He  was  afterwards 
promoted  to  Colonel;  the  regiment  having  received  a 
sufficient  number  of  substitutes  and  drafted  men  to  fill  it 
up  to,  or  about  the  minimum. 

On  the  campaign  from  Savannah,  Georgia,  to  Goldsboro, 
Z^Torth  Carolina,  he  commanded  the  Second  Brigade 
through  all  the  terrible  hardships,  and  almost  insurmounta 
ble  difficulties  of  that  campaign.  When  the  regiment 
arrived  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  he  was  promoted  to  Brevet 


308  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Brigadier-General,  and  that  upon  consideration  of  merit 
alone,  which  is  by  no  means  what  all  promotions  in  the  his 
tory  of  the  war  can  claim. 

A.    W.    SEARCH 

Was  promoted  to  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant,  vice  If. 
S.  Abbott.  lie  was  Colonel  Wiles'  right  hand  bower,  and 
one  that  never  failed  to  win.  Possessed  of  fine  executive 
talent,  prompt  in  execution,  miick  in  apprehension,  correct 
in  decision,  combined  with  liberal  education,  and  a  mild, 
pleasant,  social  disposition,  well  fitted  him  for  the  position 
in  the  regiment  and  brigade.  lie  was  A.  A.  A.  General  of 
the  Brigade  while  commanded  by  Colonel  Wiles.  His 
correct  knowledge  of  all  orders  and  returns  necessary  to  be 
made  on  the  part  of  officers  to  the  War  Department,  made 
him  a  very  useful  officer  in  the  regiment.  When  difficulties 
arose,  and  officers  became  perplexed  in  regard  to  their 
returns,  "go  to  Search  "  was  usually  the  advice. 

While  Adjutant  Search  was  on  Colonel  Wiles'  stair', 
Lieutenant  J.  T.  Story  acted  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment. 
lie  made  a  very  prompt  and  efficient  Adjutant,  lie  had 
been  for  several  months  on  General  Scott's  staff,  as  Brigade. 
Inspector  and  Provost  Marshal.  As  an  officer,  General 
{Scott  complimented  him  highly  for  the  efficient  and  satis 
factory  manner  in  which  he  adjusted  all  the  business  of 
those  two  important  offices. 

LIWTEXANT   WILLIAM    M.    SLEETII 

Was  appointed  Adjutant,  vice  Search  promoted.  He  filled 
the  position  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  regiment,  until 
it  was  mustered  out  of  service. 

In  May,  1864,  G.  F.  PECKHAM  was  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  of  the  regiment.  Surgeon  Reeves  being  on 
detached  duty  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  therefore  the 
entire  responsibility  of  the  medical  department  of  the 
regiment  rested  on  Surgeon  Peckham,  who  discharged  his 
duty  with  entire  satisfaction.  He  is  a  man  of  very  agree 
able  manners  and  address,  social  and  accommodating, 
nothing  fastidious  or  eccentric  about  him* 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  100 

RALPH    D.    WEBB 

Was  appointed  Second  Assistant  Surgeon  in  May,  130"). 
lie  is  a  very  pleasant  young1  man,  and  liked  well  by  the 
regiment.  Xo  other  changes  occurred  in  the  Medical  Stall' 
until  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment. 

CAPTAIN  GILBERT  D.  MUNSON 

Y\~as  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  in  January,  1805. 
He  had  long  been  on  stair' duty,  as  Picket  Officer.  He  is  an 
officer  of  much  ability,  good  attainments  and  very  pleasing 
address,  of  good  morals,  and  commendable  habits.  Ho 
took  command  of  the  regiment  at  Goldsboro,  X.  C.,  and 
led  it  through  to  Alexandria,  Ya.,  in  a  manner  that; 
imprcssod  the  men  most  favorably.  Every  one  held  him  in 
the  highest  estimation.  He  was  quiet  but  earnest  in  all  lie 
did,  and  did  business  orderly  and  with  dispatch. 

There  was  no  half  manner  of  discipline ;  orders  had  to 
1)0  obeyed  promptly,  and  without  questions.  Colonel 
Munson,  though  young  in  years,  was  old  in  military  expe 
rience.  His  coolness  and  bravery  upon  the  field  of  battle, 
was  almost  unequaled ;  he  detested  cowardice,  meanness 
and  treachery;  gentlemanly  in  his  manner  and  chaste  in 
Ins  conversation. 

CAPTAIN   ISRAEL    C.    ROBINSON 

AVas  promoted  to  Major  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  and  com 
manded  the  regiment  from  that  place  to  Goldsboro,  X.  C1., 
(sec  Company  D.)  The  Major  is  one  of  those  social,  merry, 
good  natured  men,  and  so  musical  in  everything  that  no 
one  could  avoid  liking  him,  even  if  he  did  not  wish  to. 
This  was  the  case  with  the  regiment :  it  was  natural  to  be 
impressed  in  his  favor.  On  the  South  Carolina  campaign 
lie  commanded  the  regiment  with  much  satisfaction  to  all. 
He  is  fond  of  fast  horses,  fast  people,  good  water,  good 
table,  and  liked  to  see  and  have  his  regiment  look  well. 

REV.   T.  M.  STEVENSON 

Was  appointed  Chaplain  in  February,  1868,   and  served 
with  the  regiment  in  nearly  all  its  campaigns. 


110  HISTORY   OF   THE 

The  present  non-commissioned  staff  are  : 
Andrew  McPherson,  Sergeant-Major. 
Simeon  C.  Search,  Quartermaster-Sergeant. 
AVilliam  "W.  Porter,  Commissary-Sergeant. 
Joseph  L.  Geyer,  Hospital  Steward. 
Jacob  Arter,  Principal  Musician. 


WAR  SHADOWS. 


It  will  be  seen  by  an  examination  of  the  records  that 
nearly  one  regiment  of  men  have  been  used  up,  within  a 
period  of  less  than  four  years,  by  deaths  from  disease  or 
wounds,  killed  in  battle,  discharged  for  disability,  missing 
and  deserted. 

Although  the  regiment  has  suffered  severely,  being  in  all 
the  important  battles,  skirmishes  and  campaigns  of  the 
Western  army,  always  in  the  front,  and  in  the  heart  of  an 
enemy's  country,  and  living  both  summer  and  winter 
among  the  swamps  of  a  miasmatic  and  unhealthy  climate  i 
yet  it  has  been  wonderfully  spared  and  blessed.  Pros 
pering  providences  have  attended  the  regiment  in  all  its 
marches  and  battles.  Very  often,  when  in  the  most  dan 
gerous  position,  and  circumstances  of  the  most  hazardous 
nature,  some  fortuitous  event  occurred  that  saved  the  regi 
ment.  Often,  very  often,  has  the  writer  observed  that  a 
few  moments  earlier  or  later  would  have  been  attended 
with  the  most  disastrous  consequences.  Wise,  prudent  and 
skillful  commanders  have  saved  many  a  precious  life.  Yea, 
at  times,  saved  the  entire  regiment  from  being  annihilated 
or  taken  prisoners. 

The  Sanitary  condition  of  the  regiment  has  always  been 
a  special  care  of  its  officers.  Although  it  received  but  little 
benefit  from  the  Sanitary  Commission  nearly  all  the  period 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE 

of  the  war,  being  too  far  to  the  front  to  be  accessible  to  the 
agencies.  It  has  been  a  source  of  regret  that  the  regiment 
could  enjoy  so  little  of  the  kind  and  generous  liberality  of 
its  many  friends  who  have  contributed  so  largely  and 
profusely  to  all  the  Relief  Associations  and  Commissions 
for  the  benefit  of  the  soldiers. 

For  more  than  one-half  the  past  two  years,  the  regiment, 
has  been  allowanced  to  one-half,  and  sometimes  to  one-third 
rations,  and  many  times  for  days  together,  none  at  all  ; 
while  the  Eastern  army,  and  those  in  our  immediate  rear, 
were  receiving  almost  sufficient  from  Christian  and  Sanitary 
Commissions  to  supply  all  deficiencies  of  the  army  rations. 
Often  have  we  seen  men  in  the  rear  of  Yicksburg,  before 
communications  were  opened,  and  also  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  offer  five  dollars  for  a  single  " hard-tack,"  and  at 
the  same  time  marching  and  lighting  night  and  day;  fit 
other  times,  after  lying  in  their  pits  and  trenches,  as  sit- 
Yicksburg,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  and  the  siege  of 
Savannah,  for  weeks  and  months  exposed  to  hot  sun  and 
the  cool  dampness  of  the  nights,  and  constantly  under  tho 
enemy's  lire,  with  a  very  scanty  allowance.  Such  eircum'- 
stanees  must  necessarily  enlarge  the  mortality  of  the 
regiment.  The  wonder  is  not,  therefore,  that  so  many  hare 
fallen,  but  that  any  were  spared;  not  that  so  many  of  its 
brave  men  lie  scattered  here  and  there,  in  nearly  every 
rebellious  State,  but  that  so  many  were  permitted,  through 
a  kind  and  merciful  Providence,  to  return  to  their  homes 
nnd  their  friends.  Although  v/e  rejoice  in  a  country  saved  by 
the  valor  and  heroism  of  her  sons,  yet  there  are  clouds  oi 
blackness  that  gather  over  us  to  dim  the  brightness  of  our  joy. 
Bad  and  desolate  hearts  mourn,  bereft  of  toved  ones  who  lie 
sleeping  their  long  sleep,  sanctifying  by  their  ashes  the  soil 
of  traitors.  We  rejoice  that  the  stars  and. stripes,  the  flag 
of  the  free,  waves  over  a  free  people,  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific,  and  not  one  slave  beneath  its  folds.  But  in  the 
midst  of  our  rejoicing  shadows  of  departed  ones  hang  over 
us,  and  linger  around,  causing  the  patriot  to  exclaim :  Alas-' 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  113 

that  it  was  purchased  so  dear.  We  thank  God  for  liberty 
and  a  free  land ;  that  the  fetter  has  been  stricken  from  the 
hand  of  the  slave  ;  but,  alas  !  at  such  a  price  !  The  sacrifice 
of  the  husband,  the  father,  the  brother,  the  son,  who  shall 
never  return  to  receive  the  welcome  smile,  to  hear  the 
gladsome  voices,  to  cheer  the  heart,  and  the  sweet  caresses 
of  little  ones,  as  they  gather  around  him  in  the  quietude  of 
his  evening  hours.  These  are  the  clouds  of  war  that  hang 
heavy  with  widows'  tears,  a  mother's  grief,  a  sister's 
regret. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  has  lost  many  of  its  very 
best  and  bravest  men.  Death  in  every  form  seems  to  love 
the  beautiful  and  the  good,  and  selects  such  as  companions, 
in  its  cold  and  chilly  abode.  It  delights  to  walk  where  it 
can  cause  to  flow  the  most  tears,  the  deepest  sorrow,  and 
most  painful  grief;  the  best  husband,  the  best  son  and 
brother,  arc  death's  delights  and  chosen  ones.  When  in 
battle,  and  any  one  fell  dead,  or  mortally  wounded,  the 
Captain  would  say,  "  That  is  one  of  my  best  and  most 
reliable  men." 

The  regiment  when  it  left  the  State,  had  a  strong- 
religious  element  ;  men  who  were  active,  living,  earnest 
Christians.  The  greater  proportion  of  these  have  fallen  ; 
men  whose  loss  the  regiment  deeply  felt,  and  who  will  be 
much  missed  at  home,  and  by  their  friends.  Truly,  the 
best  blood  of  the  land  has  been  poured  out  to  make  sacred 
our  country's  flag,  and  baptise  anew  the  principles  which  it 
represents. 

This  fact  should  lead  our  national  authority  to  cherish 
her  noble  institutions,  and  to  consecrate  themselves  ane'.r 
to  labor  for  her  welfare ;  and  to  give  to  patriotism  a  signifi 
cance  of  meaning  that  will  shame  the  demagogue,  and 
embalm  in  the  heart  the  nation's  honor,  by  doing  justly, 
loving  mercy,  and  keeping  judgment. 

Let  every  true  patriot  most  earnestly  cherish  the  name* 
of  those  who  have  laid  down  their  lives  upon  their  ooutb- 

8 


114  HISTORY   OF   THE 

try's  altar,  and  cheerfully  have  given  all  that  was  dear  to 
themselves  and  families  a  sacrifice  for  national  life  and 
honor  —  for  the  peace  and  safety  of  homes,  for  the 
prosperity  of  national  union,  liberty  and  independence. 

Those  brave  ones  are  gone  beyond  the  reach  of  our  benefit 
and  reward,  but  those  who  immediately  and  directly  feel 
the  sacrifice  are  among  us.  Let  their  loss  be  partially 
made  up  by  all  that  is  beautiful  in  human  kindness  and 
tenderness;  by  drying  up  the  widow's  tears  and  the 
orphan's  lament :  in  a  benevolence  of  heart  that  will  bestow 
liberally  of  a  benefit  and  reward  that  will  gladden  and  cheer 
the  heart,  saddened  and  depressed  by  a  loss  that  can  never 
be  compensated.  Let  the  lacerated  feelings  be  healed  by 
the  balm  of  active,  sympathising  beneficence.  Let  the 
monuments  to  be  erected  in  honor  of  the  dead,  be  the  care 
of  the  soldier's  family,  that  his  orphan  children  may  be 
monuments  of  true  patriotism,  Christian  greatness  and 
praiseworthy  integrity. 

Let  those  last  words  that  come  in  faint  accents  from  the 
dying  husband  and  father,  "Oh!  my  wife,  luy  children; 
what  will  become  of  them  ?"  be  answered  by  every  patriotic 
heart:  " They  shall  be  taken  care  of."  Patriot,  bend  your 
knee  and  listen  to  that  soldier  boy  who  had  scarcely  passed 
his  sixteenth  year,  when  lying  upon  his  cot,  where  the 
candle  of  life  was  growing  dim  and  flickering  in  its  socket, 
and  thought  to  be  insensible  to  passing  events,  heard  the 
Chaplain's  voice  and  called  ploud  to  him  to  come  to  his  cfc>t 
and  pray  with  him.  And  when  the  Chaplain  arose  from  l.h 
kn^e,  the  little  boy  exclaimed,  "I  feel  better  now,"  and 
c  >n;menced  a  beautiful  and  earnest  prayer  for  his  mother  and 
little  sister  —  that  God  would  comfort  her  in  the  loss  of  her 
dear  boy,  that  lie  would  care  for  both  her  and  sister,  and 
bring  them  both  to  meet  him  in  heaven.  Help,  patriot! 
to  answer  that  dear  boy's  prayer,  by  caring  for  that  mother 
and  that  dear  little  sister,  and  the  hundreds  around  you  in 
si mila r  c ! re umst anccs. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  115 

Let  the  survivors  of  these  four  years  of  bloody  conflict 
gather  around  their  fallen  comrades,  and  carve  their  names, 
if  not  on  marble,  on  the  tablets  of  their  hearts.  You  rejoice 
that  the  cause  for  which  you  have  fought,  the  cause  of  our 
country  and  humanity,  has  triumphed,  and  you  are  here  to 
enjoy  the  victory.  Ivead  often  their  names,  and  be  carried, 
in  imagination,  over  the  dark  scenes  of  the  rebellion  from 
its  commencement  to  its  end.  Commemorate  the  deeds  and 
virtues  of  those  heroes,  who  are  not  permitted,  by  a  myste 
rious  Providence,  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  patient 
endurance,  their  hard  struggle  and  severe  conflicts.  They 
lie  scattered  broadcast,  along  the  Mississippi  Valley,  the 
mountains  and  plains  of  Georgia,  and  by  the  rivers  and 
swamps  of  South  Carolina;  and  in  the  burying  grounds  of 
the  hospitals  from  Atlanta  to  Cincinnati ;  and  in  numberless 
graves  in  rebel  prisons  from  Alabama  to  Virginia.  They 
will  bo  seen  no  more  on  earth.  Their  homes,  sorrow- 
stricken,  will  be  gladdened  never  more  by  their  return;, 
their  heroic  death,  those  remain  to  their  friends,  their  com 
rades,  and  to  their  country.  "We  would  like  to  introduce 
to  tho  reader,  a  more  particular  history  of  these  noblo 
men,  to  give  some  more  special  account  of  the  remarkable 
and  triumphant  deaths  we  have  witnessed.  The  calm 
ness  in  which  they  faced  tho  King  of  Terrors :  their 
unshaken  faith  in  Christ  who  was  true  to  his  promise  to. 
lead  them  down  through  the  Valley  peacefully,  and  tri 
umphantly.  They  found  thero  was  nothing  to  fear, 
that  all  was  well ;  all  was  bright. 

The  many  fathers  who  committed,  when  dying,  their 
wives  and  children  to  God's  care,  and  their  earnest  desire 
that  they  would  all  strive  to  meet  them  in  heaven,  but  we 
cannot  give  space  to  individual  instances.  These  would  till 
a  large  volume  themselves.  AVe  cannot  forbear  putting  one 
on  record:  a  fair  specimen  of  many.  The  following  is  a 
brief  account  of  the  Christian  life  and  death  of  one  who 
enlisted  in  the  regiment: 

Among  the  many  noble  young  men  who  have  given  their 


116  HISTORY   OF   THE 

lives  for  the  cause  of  human  independence,  we  may  class 
JASPER  STONE  LAUGHLIN,  who  died  in, the  twenty-third  year 
of  his  age  at  the  "West  End  Military  Hospital,  at  Cincin 
nati,  Ohio,  May  16,  1862. 

He  was  an  only  son,  horn  in  McConnelsville,  Ohio,  of 
pious  parents,  where  he  spent  nearly  all  his  life  with  his 
mother  and  sisters,  his  father,  who  was  a  Ruling  Elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  having  died  when  Jasper  was  yet 
a  child. 

It  may  be  truly  said  of  him, 

"None  knew  him  but  to  love  him." 

The  great  beauty  of  his  short  life  shone  out  more  bril 
liantly,  when,  in  the  summer  of  1858,  he  stood  up  for  Jesus, 
and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Such  was  his 
Christian  deportment  that,  in  1861,  he  was  elected  and 
ordained  a  Ruling  Elder,  in  the  same  church  in  which  his 
father  had  lived  and  died.  When  at  home,  his  place  wa* 
never  vacant  in  the  Sabbath  school — the  prayer  meeting  — 
the  public  gatherings  of  God's  people. 

In  the  fall  of  1861,  under  a  deep  sense  of  duty  to  his 
ountry  and  his  God,  after  prayerfully  considering  the  whole 
m  itter,  and  obtaining  the  consent  of  his  widowed  mother, 
he  volunteered  under  Captain  T.  M.  Stevenson,  Seventy- 
Eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  Colonel  Leg- 
gett.  His  regiment  was  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donclson,  and 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  during  the  second  dajr.  After  having 
pa^ssed  through  that  fearful  struggle,  and  enduring  many 
hardships,  he  was  found  to  be  failing  in  health;  go  much  so, 
that  Captain  Stevenson  determined  to  send  him  home. 

He  carried  his  religion  with  him.  His  Bible  and  hymn- 
book  were  his  daily  companions.  His  Captain  in  writing 
about  him,  since  his  death,  says :  "  He  was  beloved  by  every 
one  of  his  regiment.  His  conduct  was  so  lofty  and  noble, 
his  life  so  spiritual  and  heavenly-minded,  that  the  greatest 
despisers  of  religion  were  cowed  before  his  very  appear 
ance.  He  often  came  to  my  tent,  and  we  had  many  talks 
on  our  experience.  Once  he  said,  '  I  never  before  felt  the 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.    V.   I.  117 

importance  of  religion  as  I  do  hero.  Cut  off  from  home 
and  the  public  means  of  grace,  I  feel  the  necessity  of  lean 
ing  exclusively  on  the  Savior,  and  committing  myself 
entirely  to  a  kind  and  good  Providence.'  " 

When  disease  was  wearing  away  his  life,  he  was  urged  to 
think  of  home,  and  the  hope  was  held  up  before  him  that 
lie  would  soon  be  conveyed  to  his  mother  and  sisters.  He 
replied :  '  I  am  going  to  a  far  better  home  than  any  on 
earth.  Tell  my  mother  and  sisters  that  I  die  happy.  I  am 
entering  the  upper  kingdom  only  a  few  days  before  them. 
Tell  them  not  to  mourn  for  me.  I  would  not  have  them 
do  so.  They  rejoiced  when  I  came  into  the  lower  kingdom, 
how  much  more  should  they  rejoice  to  have  me  enter  into 
the  upper  Sanctuary.  Tell  them  to  sing  i  JOYFULLY,'  when 
they  hear  of  my  Idgh  promotion  from  the  army,  and  the  high 
service  of  my  country,  to  the  bright,  bright  climes  of  bliss !' 

After  he  was  placed  on  the  boat  at  Pittsburg  Landing, 
May  7,  he  seemed  to  rally,  and  expressed  himself  as  being 
quite  comfortable.  On  the  evening  of  the  9th,  however,  he 
felt  that  he  was  drawing  near  his  "  time  to  die  " — and  being 
asked  by  his  attending  physician,  if  he  had  any  message  to 
send  to  his  friends,  dictated  the  following  letter  : 

"DEAR  MOTHER  AND  SISTERS:  —  I  am  just  entering  the 
glorious  portals  of  eternity !  Jesus  has  not  yet  made  his 
appearance,  but  I  know  that  he  will.  Do  not  regret  that 
you  permitted  me  to  volunteer.  The  happiness  of  the 
present  moment  makes  up  for  all  the  suffering  I  ever 
endured.  I  soon'  expect  to  see  dear  father,  grand-father, 
and  above  all  —  JESUS  !  One  of  the  greatest  objects  of  my 
gratitude  is,  that  God  has  granted  me  the  privilege  of  send 
ing  you  this  message  from  the  chambers  of  glory.  I  never 
enjoyed  myself  so  much  as  while  in  the  army.  You  ought 
to  be  proud  that  you  have  a  son  to  fall  in  so  glorious  a 
cause  as  that  of  human  independence.  Tell  our  church  to 
be  faithful  unto  the  end,  and  get  the  glorious  crown  of  life. 
Tell  my  dear  pastor  to  continue  in  his  faithful  labors,  for  I 
know  the  blessing  of  God  will  follow  them.  Thank  Mr. 


118  HISTORY  OF   THE 

Chambers,  the  Baptist  minister,  for  the  interest  he  took  in 
me  at  the  good  old  Union  Prayer-Meetings. 

" Joyfully,  joyfully,  onward  we  move' 
will  be  sung  by  me  in  nobler  strains,  in  a  short  time,  and 

'"Nearer,  my  God,  to  thee, 

Nearer  to  thee ; 
Even  though  it  be  a  cross 

That  raiseth  me, 
Still  all  my  song  shall  be, 

Nearer,  my  God,  to  tlee, 
Nearer  to  thee' — 'I  would  be, 

Still  nearer  to  thee.'" 

Still  he  lived.  lie  was  conveyed  to  the  West  End  Mili 
tary  Hospital,  in  Cincinnati,  where  the  providence  of  his 
Covenant-keeping  God  brought  him  under  the  kind  care 
of  relatives  and  friends.  Dr.  Dodge,  who,  with  his  kind 
family,  spent  much  time  with  him,  in  a  letter,  says  : 

"  He  was  perfectly  rational  as  long  as  he  had  strength  to 
articulate.  Realizing  fully  that  his  work  on  earth  was  done, 
he  departed  with  a  confident  assurance  of  meeting  the 
Savior.  From  the  time  he  left  Pittsburg  Landing,  until  his 
death,  he  gave  to  all  around  him  the  brightest  evidence 
of  the  power  of  Christianity.  Lawyers,  physicians  and 
nurses  knelt,  and  wept,  like  children,  around  his  dying  bed. 
The  memory  of  his  example  and  faith  in  the  Savior  will 
never  be  effaced  from  the  minds  of  scores  of  sympathizing 
friends." 

His  remains  were  brought  home,  and  interred  by  the  side 
of  his  father. 


CASUALTIES  OF  THE  WAR. 


Official  estimates  at  the  "War  Department  compute  the 
number  of  deaths  in  the  Union  armies  since  the  commence* 
ment  of  the  war,  including  the  starving  prisoners  at 
«25,000.  There  has  doubtless  been  fully  200,000  Southern 
soldiers  removed  by  disease  and  the  casualties  of  battle,  so 
that  not  less  than  525,000  lives  have  been  sacrificed  in  this 
unholy  contest,  begun  and  prolonged  by  the  South  in 
their  rain  effort  to  build  up  a  new  republic  and  strengthen 
the  slave  power. 

Our  greatest  losses  during  any  one  campaign  occurred  at 
Gettysburg,  when  23,260  Union  soldiers  were  killed 
wounded  and  taken  prisoners.  Hooker's  campaign  of 
186-3  in  the  Wilderness  ranks  next  to  Gettysburg  as  far  as 
regards  Union  losses,  they  having  amounted  to  20,000, 
though  generally  reported  at  only  10,000.  Burnside  lost 
12,000  in  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  McClellan  12,426 
at  Antietam,  Porter  9,000  at  Gains'  Mills,  Rosecrans  12,- 
084  at  Murfreesboro,  and  26,854  at  Chickamauga,  and 
'Sherman  about  9,000  in  two  days'  battle  around  Atlanta. 

The  official  reports  of  General  Grant's  losses,  from  the 
time  lie  crossed  tli3  Rap  id  an  until  receiving  the  surrender 
of  Lee,  computes  them  tit  90,000.  In  the  various  engage 
ments  fought  by  General  Grant  in  the  West,  he  lost  13,- 
574  men  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  9,875  in  the  severe  con 
tests  around  Yicksburg,  and  in  the  attack  on  Missionary 
Ridge,  about  7,000. 


120  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Though  our  losses  in  many  of  the  campaigns  have  been 
heavy,  they  yet  fall  far  below  those  incurred  in  some  of 
the  European  wars.  This  has  been  due,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  to  the  efficiency  of  the  medical  department,  and  the 
lavish  amount  of  supplies,  at  least  one-third  greater  than 
those  furnished  to  any  European  army.  A  report  recently 
made  to  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Medicine,  by  Cheun, 
Physician  of  the  French  army,  estimates  the  losses  of  that 
army,  in  the  Crimean  war  as  follows:  Killed  in  the  field 
of  battle  or  missing,  10,340,  lost  in  Semilante,  702;  died  of 
various  diseases  at  Alma,  8,084;  died  of  cold,  apoplexy, 
etc.,  before  Sebastopol,  4,342;  died  in.  the  field  and  general 
hospitals,  72,247,  total,  95,614.  Thus,  of  306,264  men  sent 
by  France  to  the  Crimea,  about  one-third  found  a  soldier's 
grave. 

The  seige  and  reduction  of  Jerusalem  resulted,  says 
Joseplms,  in  the  loss  of  1,000,000  lives;  90,000  Persians 
were  placed  hors  du  combat  at  the  battle  of  Albola,  and 
100,000  Carthegenians  in  the  engagement  of  Palermo, 
12,000  infantry  and  10,000  cavalry  perished  on  the  fatal 
field  of  Issus.  Spain  lost  2,000,000  lives  during  the  pros 
ecution  of  the  Arabians,  and  800,000  in  expelling  the  Jews. 
Frederick  the  Great  inflicted  a  loss  of  40,000  on  the  Aus- 
trians  in  the  conflicts  of  Leuthen  and  Leignitz.  The  battle 
of  Jena  and  lesser  engagements  immediately  following, 
cost  the  Prussian  army  over  80,000  men.  At  the  battle  of 
Leipsic,  the  French  suffered  casualties  to  the  number  of 
160,000  and  the  Sedes  and  their  allies  40,000  more.  50,- 
000  French  and  Russian  soldiers  lay  dead  and  dying  on 
the  field  after  the  battle  of  Moskow,  and  Napoleon  again 
lost  47,000  men  at  Waterloo,  and  the  Duke  of  Wellington 
15,000  more. — New  York  Commercial  Advertiser. 

REBEL   LOSS   EST   THE   WAR. 

Governor  Parsons,  in  his  proclamation  to  the  people  of 
Alabama,  preliminary  to  reorganization  in  that  State, 
estimates  that  120,000  men  of  that  State  went  upon  the 
battle  field,,  of  whom  70,000  are  dead  or  disabled.  If  w« 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    Y.    I.  121 

apply  the  same  ratio  of  enlistments  in  the  other  States  that 
held  out  during  the  war,  and  make  an  approximation  of 
tiio  numbers  sent  out  from  the  remainder  of  the  slave  States, 
we  slial  1  have  the  following  interesting  table  : 

Dead  and 

State?.                                                            Enlistments.  Disabled. 

Alabama 120.000  70,000 

ArUnn>at!,  bay 50,000  80,000 

Florida 17,000  10.000 

Georgia 131,000  7*1.000 

Kentucky,  say 50.000  30.000 

Loui.-iatia,   say 50.000  34.000 

Mississippi 78.600  45.000 

Missouri,  say 40.000  24.000 

Maryland,  say 40  000  24,000 

North  Carolina 140,000  85000 

South  Carolina 00.000  34.000 

Tennessee,  say 60.000  34  000 

IVxi*,  sny 93.000  53.000 

Virginia,  pay 180  000  105.000 

Total 1,124,000  660,000 

If  all  the  men  who  were  once  got  into  the  rebel  army 
were  retained  during  the  war,  or  during  their  ability  to 
serve,  there  were,  according  to  this  calculation,  464,000  men 

•  in  the  rebel  service  at  the  close  of  the  war.     But  if  allow 
ances   be  made  for  desertion,  &c.,  and  for  the  sick  in  the 
hospitals   who   have  recovered   and   are   not    counted    by 
Governor  Parsons  among  the  disabled,  we  shall  find   this 
number  of  404,000  diminished  to  something  like  the  actual 

*  number  that  cither  surrendered  to  our  forces  or   scattered 
to  their  homes  immediately  after  the  fall  of  Richmond.     It 
seems,  therefore,  from  this  verification  of  the  solution  of  the 
problem,  that  Governor  Parsons  was  not  very  far  from  the 
truth,  and  that  we  have  made  about  the  proper  allowances 
in  filling  up  the  table. 

PLANNING  CAMPaiGNS. 

The  following  quotation  from  a  response  made  by  Gene 
ral  Sherman  to  his  reception  at  St.  Louis,  gives  a  good 
general  view  of  the  campaigns  in  which  our  Southwestern 
army  was  engaged : 

Here  in  St.  Louis,  probably,  began  the  great  centre  move 
ment  which  terminated  the  war,  a  battle-field  such  as  never 


122  HISTORY  OF   THE 

before  was  seen,  extending  from  ocean  to  ocean  almost  with 
the  right  wing  and  the  left  wing,  and  from  the  centre  here 
I  remember  one  evening,  up  in  the  old  Planter's  House, 
sitting  with  General  Halleck  and  General  Cull  vim,  and  we 
were  talking  about  this,  that  and  the  other, ;  a  map  was 
on  the  table,  and  I  was  explaining  the  position  of  the  troops 
of  the  enemy  in  Kentucky  when  I  came  to  this  State. 
General  Halleck  knew  well  the  position  here,  and  I 
remember  well  the  question  he  asked  me— the  question  of 
the  school  teacher  to  his  child — "  Sherman,  here  is  the  line  '•> 
how  will  you  break  that  line  ?"  "  Physically,  by  a  perpen 
dicular  force/'  "Where  is  the  perpendicular  ?"  "  The  line 
of  the  Tennessee  Elver."  General  Halleck  is  the  author 
of  that  first  beginning,  and  I  give  him  the  credit  of  it  with 
pleasure.  [Cheers.]  Laying  down  his  pencil  upon  the  map 
he  said,  "There  is  the  line,  and  we  must  take  it."  The 
capture  of  the  forts  on  the  Tennessee  River,  by  the  troops 
led  by  Grant,  followed.  [Cheers.]  These  were  the  gram! 
strategic  features  of  that  first  movement,  and  it  succeeded 
perfectly. 

General  ITalleck's  went  further — not  to  stop  at  his  first 
line,  which  ran  through  Columbus,  Bowling  Green,  crossing 
the  river  at  Henry  and  Donclson,  but  to  push  on  to  the 
second  line,  which  ran  through  Memphis  and  Charleston  ; 
but  troubles  intervened  at  Nashville,  and  delays  followed ;  * 
opposition  to  the  last  movement  was  made,  and  I  myself  was 
brought  an  actor  on  the  scene. 

I  remember  our  ascent  of  the  Tennessee  River;  I  have 
seen  to-night,  captains  of  steamboats  who  first  went  with  us 
there  ;  storms  came,  and  we  did  not  reach  the  point  we 
desired.  At  that  time  General  C.  F.  Smith  was  in  com 
mand  ;  he  was  a  man  indeed ;  all  the  old  officers  remember 
him  as  a  gallant  and  excellent  officer,  and  had  he  lived, 
probably  some  of  us  younger  fellows  would  not  have 
attained  our  present  positions.  But  that  is  now  past.  We 
followed  him — the  second  time — and  then  came  the  landing 
of  forces  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  Whether  it  was  a  mistake 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.    I.  123 

in  landing  them  on  the  west  instead  of  the  east  bank,  it  is 
not  necessary  now  to  discuss.  I  think  it  was  not  a  mistake ; 
there  was  gathered  the  first  great  army  of  the  "West — com 
mencing  with  only  twelve  thousand,  then  twenty,  then 
thirty  thousand,  ami  we  had  about  thirty-eight  thousand  in 
that  battle ;  and  all  I  claim  for  that  is,  that  it  was  a  contest 
for  manhood ;  there  was  no  strategy.  Grant  was  there,  and 
others  of  us,  all  young  at  that  time,  and  unknown  men,  but 
our  enemy  was  old,  and  Sidney  Johnston,  whom  all  the 
officers  remembered  as  a  power  among  the  old  officers,  high 
above  Grant,  myself  or  anybody  else,  led  the  enemy  on  that 
battle-field,  and  I  almost  wonder  how  we  conquered.  But, 
as  I  remarked,  it  was  a  contest  for  manhood — man  to  man, 
soldier  to  soldier.  "We  fought,  and  we  held  our  ground, 
and  therefore  accounted  ourselves  victorious.  [Cheers.] 

THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

The  possession  of  the  Mississippi  river  is  the  possession 
of  America,  [cheers,]  and  I  say  that  had  the  Southern 
Confederacy,  (call  it  by  what  name  you  may,)  had  that 
power  represented  by  the  Southern  Confederacy,  held  with 
a  grip  sufficiently  strong  the  lower  part  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  we  would  have  been  a  subjugated  people,  and  they 
would  have  dictated  to  us  if  we  had  given  up  the  possession 
of  the  lower  Mississippi.  It  was  vital  to  us,  and  we  fought 
for  it  and  won.  A\re  determined  to  have  it ;  but  we  could 
not  go  down  with  our  frail  boats  past  the  batteries  of  Vicks- 
burg.  It  was  a  physical  impossibility  ;  therefore,  what  was 
to  be  done?  After  the  Tallahatchie  line  was  carried, 
Vicksburg  was  the  next  point.  I  went  with  a  small  and 
hastily  collected  force,  and  repeatedly  endeavored  to  make 
a  lodgement  on  the  bluff  between  Vicksburg  and  Ilaiue's 
Bluffs,  while  General  Grant  moved  with  his  main  army  so 
as  to  place  himself  on  the  high  plateau  behind  Vicksburg ; 
but  "man  proposes  and  God  disposes,"  and  we  failed  on 
that  occasion.  I  then  gathered  my  hastily  collected  force 
and  went  down  further,  and  then,  for  the  first  time,  I  took 
General  Blair  and  his  brigade  under  mv  command. 


124  HISTORY   OF   THE 

On  the  very  day  I  had  agreed  to  be  there  I  was  there, 
find  we  swung  our  flanks  around,  and  the  present  Governor 
of  Missouri  fell  a  prisoner  to  the  enemy  on  that  day.  AYe 
failed.  I  waited  anxiously  for  a  co-operating  force  inland 
and  below,  but  they  did  not  come,  and  after  I  had  made  the 
assault  I  learned  that  the  depot  at  Holly  Springs  had  been 
broken  up,  and  that  General  Grant  had  sent  me  word  not 
to  attempt  it.  But  it  was  too  late.  ISTevertheless,  although 
we  were  unable  to  carry  it  at  first,  there  were  other  things 
to  be  done.  The  war  covered  such  a  vast  area  there  wits 
plenty  to  do.  I  thought  of  that  affair  at  Arkansas  Post, 
nlthough  others  claim  it,  and  they  may  have  it  if  they  want 
it.  We  cleaned  them  out  there,  and  General  Grant  then 
brought  his  army  to  Yicksburg,  and  you  in  St.  Louis 
remember  that  long  winter  —  how  we  were  on  the  levee, 
with  the  waters  rising  and  drowning  us  like  inuskrats; 
how  we  were  seeking  channels  through  Deer  Creek  and 
"Yazoo  Taes,  and  how  we  finally  cut  a  canal  across  the  penin 
sula,  in  front  of  Vicksburg.  But  all  that  time  the  true 
movement  was  the  original  movement,  and  everything  not 
approximating  to  it  nearer  the  truth.  But  we  could  not 
make  any  retrogade  movement.  Why?  Because  your 
people  of  the  Xorth  were  too  noisy. 

VICKSBURG  —  GRANT  —  SHERMAN. 

We  could  not  take  any  step  backwards,  and  for  that 
reason  we  were  ccmpclled  to  run  the  batteries  at  Vicksburg, 
and  make  a  lodgement  on  the  ridges  or  some  of  the  bluffs 
below  Vicksburg.  It  is  said  I  protested  against  it.  It  is 
folly.  I  never  protested  in  my  life — never.  [Laughter.] 
On  the  contrary,  General  Grant  rested  on  me  probably  more 
responsibility  even  than  any  other  commander  under  him. 
For  he  wrote  to  me  :  "  I  want  you  to  move  upon  Ilaine's 
Bluff,  to  enable  me  to  pass  the  next  fort  below  —  Grand 
Gulf.  I  hate  to  ask  you.  because  the  fervor  of  the  iTorth 
will  accuse  yon  of  being  rebellious  again."  [Laughter.]  I 
love  Grant  for  his  kindness.  I  did  make  the  feint  on 
Haines's  Bluffs,  and  by  that  means  Grant  ran  the  blockade 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  125 

easily  to  Grand  Gulf,  and  made  a  lodgement  down  there 
mid  got  his  army  up  on  the  high  plateau  in  the  rear  of 
Yicksburg,  while  you  people  here  were  beguiled  into  tlie 
belief  that  Sherman  was  again  repulsed.  But  we  did  not 
repose  confidence  in  everybody.  Then  followed  the  move 
ment  on  Jackson,  and  the  4th  of  July  placed  us  in  posessiou 
of  that  great  stronghold,  Yicksburg,  and  then,  as  Mr.  Lin 
coln  said,  "  the  Mississippi  went  unvexe  1  to  the  sea." 

From  that  day  to  this  the  war  has  been  virtually  and 
properly  settled.  It  was  a  certainty  then.  They  would  have 
said,  "We  give  up,"  but  Davis  would  not  ratify  it,  and  he 
had  them  under  good  discipline,  and  therefore  it  was  neces 
sary  to  fight  again.  Then  came  the  affair  of  Chickamauga. 
The  army  of  the  Mississippi  lying  along  its  banks  were 
called  into  a  new  field  of  action,  and  so  one  morning 
early  I  got  orders  to  go  to  Chattanooga.  I  did  not  know 
where  it  was  hardly.  [Laughter.]  I  did  not  know  the  road 
to  go  there.  But  I  found  it  and  got  there  in  time. 
[Laughter  and  cheers  ;]  and  although  my  men  were  shoeless 
and  the  cold  and  bitter  frosts  of  winter  were  upon  us,  yet 
I  must  still  go  to  Knoxville,  thirteen  miles  further,  to 
relieve  Burnside.  That  march  we  made.  [A  voice;  and 
you  got  there  in  time.]  Then  winter  forced  us  to  lie  quiet, 
During  that  winter  I  took  a  little  exercise  down  the  river, 
but  that  is  of  no  account. 


THE  REGIMEXT  LEAVING  THE  STATE. 

ITS   ARRIVAL   AT   FORT   DOKELSOX. 


The  regiment  had  been  in  camp  over  one  month,  which 
time  was  actively  and  daily  occupied  in  drill,  target  shoot 
ing,  making  scouts,  enclosing  an  enemy  in  imagination  in. 
some  ravine  ;  or  in  the  early  morn,  before  the  dawn  of  day, 
1  inrrying  out  of  their  tents  at  the  sound  of  the  "long  roll, " 
and  through  snow  and  over  ice  would  make  a  short  scout 
and  drill  and  return  to  camp  before  breakfast  hour.  The 
men  began  earnestly  to  desire  to  see  and  take  part  in  the? 
more  active  operations  of  the  field,  and  try  the  reality  of 
war.  Our  arms  at  several  important  points  had  been  suc 
cessful.  The  glorious  news  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry 
on  the  Tennessee  River  had  reached  the  Xorth,  and  the  reg 
iment  almost  feared  the  war  would  end  without  having  any 
part  in  it. 

Gen.  Grant  was  moving  up  the  Cumberland  with  gun 
boats,  and  a  land  force  from  Fort  Henry,  to  attack  Fort 
Donelson,  which  was  the  gate  to  Xashville  and  Middle  Ten 
nessee.  On  the  evening  of  the  10th  of  February  1862, 
Colonel  Leggett  received  orders  to  proceed  with  the  regi 
ment  next  morning  to  Paducah,  Kentucky.  That  night 
was  busy  with  preparations  for  leaving.  Friends  came  in 
throngs  to  bid  the  regiment  adieu,  and  look  for  the  last 
time,  as  it  afterwards  proved  to  many,  upon  a  dear  son,  a. 
brother,  a  husband  and  friend.  The  soldiers  slept  in  hope, 
and  next  morning  rose  refreshed  and  eager,  with  intense 
anxiety  to  commence  their  journey ;  very  soon  "  strike  tents  " 
was  sounded  by  the  bugle  and  in  a  short  time  all  was  in 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  127 

readiness ;  the  camp  equipage  taken  to  the  depot,  and  the 
men  marched  to  the  city.  Owing  to  the  inclemency  of  the 
weather,  the  regiment  halted  upon  the  bridge,  and  awaited 
the  arrival  of  the  trains.  About  4  P.  M.  the  cars  were 
reported  ready,  and  soon  the  regiment  was  on  its  way,  arriv 
ing  at  Cincinnati  next  forenoon,  and  then  embarked  upon 
two  steamers  for  Paducah.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hawks 
taking  command  of  the  left  wing  upon  one  boat,  and 
Colonel  Leggett  the  right  wing  upon  the  other.  That 
night  was  made  terribly  disagreeable  by  a  severe  storm  of 
wind  and  snow  ;  the  right  wing  was  compelled,  in  conse 
quence  to  anchor  till  morning.  The  left  wing  being  on  a 
better  boat,  was  able  to  push  forward  till  morning,  when 
seeing  nothing  of  the  other  boat,  am  bored  for  two  or  three 
hours;  learning  some  mishap  had  befallen  the  right  wing 
the  boat  turned  about  and  steamed  up  stream  in  search ;  in 
a  few  hours  the  boats  met,  and  then  pushed  on  to  Paducah, 
where  they  arrived  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day. 

Fighting  had  commenced  at  Fort  Donelson.  Colonel 
Leggett  received  orders  to  draw  five  day's  rations,  and 
proceed  with  his  regiment  to  the  field  of  action  immedi 
ately.  The  boats  were  soon  on  their  way  up  the  rapid 
flowing  Cumberland.  Several  boats  were  met  on  the  way, 
returning  from  the  place  of  bloody  conflict,  each  of  which 
was  hailed  for  tidings.  The  answer  of  all  was  the  same- 
"Fighting  like  li — 1."  The  regiment  began  to  appear 
more  serious;  some  restless  with  anxiety,  wishing  to  get 
on  to  take  part  in  the  battle,  while  others  were  restless  with 
dread  and  trembling,  as  every  moment  brought  them 
nearer  the  scene  of  bloody  strife  and  death.  The  regiment 
arrived  within  full  view  of  the  enemy's  works,  and 
anchored  in  the  midst  of  the  fleet,  about  an  hour  before 
sundown.  The  fight  for  the  day  had  nearly  subsided.  One 
gunboat  Avas  up  the  stream  a  few  rods,  throwing  an  occa 
sional  shell.  The  writer  with  some  officers  got  permission 
to  go  ashore ;  we  went  immediately  nearer  the  field  of 
active  engagement,  to  ascertain  how  matters  stood.  If  era 


128  HISTOKY    OF   THE 

we  saw  for  the  first  time  the  burial  of  the  dead  on  the  field 
of  battle,  which  impressed  us  with  anything  but  pleasant 
sensations.  We  ascertained  the  following  to  be  the  posi 
tion  of  affairs,  on  Saturday  evening  the  14th,  which  satis 
fied  us  that  either  the  enemy  would  surrender  next  morning 
or  we  have  some  hard  fighting,  and  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Ohio  Regiment  have  probably  a  very  rough  invitation. 

The  rebel  position  was  a  strong  one.  The  water  batteries 
had  been  successful  in  so  far  injuring  the  gunboats,  that 
they  could  not  be  of  any  more  service  for  several  days. 
The  place  must  be  taken  by  a  land  force.  The  rebel 
defenses  were  strongly  protected  by  a  line  of  rifle-pits,  and 
these  protected  in  turn  by  fallen  trees  and  brush,  making 
almost  impassable  obstructions.  The  main  fort  was  in 
the  rear,  and  occupied  a  position  on  a  high  ridge,  which 
commanded  the  country  for  miles  in  the  sweep  of  its  com 
mon  range.  The  rebel  General  Floyd  was  in  command  of 
the  works,  and  next  in  rank  were  Generals  Pillow  and 
Buckner.  General  U.  S.  Grant  was  in  command  of  the 
Federal  army,  which  consisted  of  three  divisions.  General 
McClernand's  Division  on  the  right,  General  Smith's  on 
the  left,  and  General  Lew  Wallace's  in  the  center. 

General  Grant  established  his  lines  on  Friday,  parallel 
with  the  rebel  line  of  works,  and  completely  enclosed  them. 
On  this  day  some  hard  fighting  took  place  on  our  right  and 
center.  General  Wallace  made  an  attack  upon  a  strong 
rebel  position,  but  without  much  success.  The  gunboats, 
under  command  of  Admiral  Foote,  did  some  very  severe 
lighting,  losing  fifty-four  men,  killed  and  wounded,  and 
was  himself  severely  wounded  in  the  foot.  The  Admiral, 
seeing  his  boats  doing  fine  execution,  thought  he  was  about 
being  successful  in  silencing  the  rebel  batteries  commanding 
the  river,  but  at  that  moment  a  shot  disabled  one  boat,  and 
the  other  was  so  badly  injured  that  it  was  compelled  to 
iloat  down  stream  to  get  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  guilt*. 
That  Friday  night  was  one  of  great  suffering  and  hard 
ship  to  the  troops,  who  slept  without  tenta  or  ore,  and 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  EEGIMEXT  0.  V.   V.  I. 

within  rifle  shot  of 'the  enemy's  works.  The  night  was 
dark,  and  soon  a  cold  heavy  rain  began  to  fall,  and  finally 
turned  into  sleet  and  snow,  with  fierce  tempests  of  wintry 
wind.  Occasionally  the  sharp  crack  of  the  pickets'  rifle 
was  heard  over  the  sound  of  the  agitated  forest,  and 
bending  and  breaking  trees.  In  this  cold,  pelting  storm  the 
men  lay  without  a  murmur,  upon  their  arms,  ready  for  the 
terrible  storm  of  the  next  day's  conflict. 

General  Grant  having  the  enemy  closely  invested, 
determined  to  hold  them  in  their  position,  and  storm  them 
into  a  surrender,  but  the  rebel  Floyd,  fearing  this  same  thing,, 
decided  that  he  would,  the  next  morning,  concentrate  his 
forces  upon  General  MeClernand,  who  held  our  right,  and 
vut  his  way  out  and  escape  towards  Xashville.  This  caused 
the  most  terrible  fighting  on  Saturday,  and  well  nigh  did 
Floyd  accomplish  his  plan.  The  day  was  damp  and  cold ; 
at  dawn  of  day  the  soldiers  rose  from  their  wintry  resting 
place,  and  soon  were  standing  shivering  in  their  ranks,  but 
cold  frost  and  snow  were  soon  forgotten,  and  nnielt,  as  the 
heavy  roar  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  the  rapid  musketry 
firing  broke  the  morning's  stillness.  The  battle-field  was 
made  up  of  hills  and  ravines,  all  covered  with  dense  forest. 
On  every  commanding  eminence  artillery  was  placed,  which 
bclclied  forth  shot  and  shell  into  our  lines  below.  Through 
the  dense  woods  the  battle  surged  backward  and  forward, 
till  our  advance  regiments  on  the  right,  overpowered  by 
overwhelming  numbers,  gave  way,  and  were  driven  back 
from  their  first  position.  At  one  time  the  enemy  threatened 
to  sweep  the  entire  battle-field,  and  even  broka  through 
MeClernand' s  lines.  M'Callister's  Battery  of  four  twenty- 
four  pounders,  which  had  pDured  so  much  death  into  the 
rebel  ranks,  could  do  nothing  more  to  prevent  the  advance 
of  the  enemy.  Captain  M'Callister  had  fired  ar,vay  his  last 
round  of  ammunition ;  had  part  of  his  horses  killed,  three 
<j!in3  disabled,  and  the  remaining  0110  abandoned  to  the 
rebels. 


130  HISTOKY    OF   THIS 

Here  we  might  remark  that  this  battery  has  been  con 
nected  with  the1  Third  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps, 
throughout  the,  entire  war.  The  day  now  seemed  to  be 
almost  lost  to  any  one  with  a  less  determination  than 
General  Grant,  and  nothing  to  prevent  Floyd  to  make  his 
way  out  into  the  open  country,  but  General  "Wallace 
promptly  —  at  General  Grant's  suggestion — dispatched  a 
brigade  to  assist  M'Clernand  on  the  extreme  right.  This 
brigade  went  into  the  fight  on  the  "  double-quick,'*'  and  with 
a,  determined  will,  inflicting  sad  havoc  in  the  enemy's  ranks. 
Wood's  Battery  was  now  brought  into  position  on  the  road? 
•where  the  rebels  had  routed  a  brigade  of  M'Clcrnand's 
Division,  and  were  trying  to  flank  the  brigade  just  sent  by 
Wallace  to  support  the  right,  and  sent  its  shot  and  shell 
with  so  much  precision  and  deadly  effect  into  the  massed 
rebel  troops,  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire,  leaving 
hundreds  of  their  dead,  mangled  and  dying  comrades  in  our 
hands,  and  give  up  the  victory  they  could  almost,  a  moment 
before, have  grasped;  but  many  who  one  minute  saw  their 
way  clear  to  [Nashville,  in  the  next  were  torn  to  pieces  by  a 
cannon  shot,  or  pierced  through  the  brain  by  a  Minie  ball, 
and  sent  with  "military  dispatch,'''  to  account  for  more  than 
one  rebellion.  General  Wallace  at  this  time  joined  another 
brigade  on  the  right. 

General  Grant  now  appeared  upon  the  field;  during  the 
time  of  this  severe  lighting,  in  order  to  push  bis  lines 
forward,  he  had  been  in  consultation  with  Admiral  Foote. 
Seeing  the  effort  the  enemy  was  making  to  break  his  lines, 
and  the  almost  completion  of  their  object,  ordered  an  imme 
diate  charge  of  all  his  forces  on  the  enemy's  works. 
Wallace  led  the  charge  on  the  right,  and  General  Smith  on 
the  left.  At  8  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  bugle  sounded  forward. 
General  Smith  led  the  advance,  and  onward  the  living  mass 
of  warriors  moved.  The  enemy  poured  down  the  hills  and 
through  the  brush  and  timber  an  unbroken  sheet  of  lire-, 
which  caused  many  openings  in  the  ranks  of  the  charging 
column  ;  but  these  were  soon  filled  up,  and  onward  they 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  131 

moved.  The  Seventh  Iowa  and  another  regiment  were 
noon  on  the  top  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  engaged  in  a 
hand-to-hand  combat  with  the  rebels.  The  enemy  soon 
brok  >  and  lied,  leaving  General  Smith  in  possession  of  the 
works  who  quickly  hud  artillery  placed  in  position  to  bear 
up)ii  the  inner  lino?  of  rebel  works.  The  right  -wo-*  als  > 
successful.  Thus  ended  the  strife  for  that  day.  Fighting 
ceased,  and  quietness  reigned  along  the  whole  line,  except 
the  moaning  of  the  wounded  and  dying. 

The  next  morning  was  determined  upon  to  assault  the 
inner  works.  But  during  the  night  Floyd  an  1  Pillow,. 
under  cover  6*f  darkness  and  a  dense  fog,  crossed  the  river 
in  ilatboats  with  a  portion  of  their  troops  and  iled,  and 
desired  Buckner  to  do  the  same;  but  lie  promptly  told 
Floyd  "lie  would  shaiv  the  fate  of  his  mem."  General 
]>uckner  now  being  in  command  of  tlie  rebel  fort,  sent  a 
iiag  of  truce  early  on  Sunday  morning  to  General  Grant, 
to  know  on  what  terms  lie  could  surrender.  To  which 
Grant  replied:  "I  demand  an  immediate  and  unconditional 
surrender.  I  propose  to  move  upon  your  works  at  once." 
From  this  reply  lie  is  named  the  "  Unconditional  Surrender 
Grant,"  which  corresponded  so  exactly  with  the  initials  of 
his  name. 

The  troops  had  now  been  exposed  to  cold  and  hardships, 
without  fire,  tents  or  coffee,  for  two  days  and  nights.  That 
Saturday  night,  after  the  most  terrible  lighting  throughout 
the  day,  with  now  depleted  ranks,  the  troops  again  lay  upon 
their  arms,  and  at  day-dawn  Sabbath  morning,  with  cold 
and  stiffened  limbs,  again  take  their  places  in  ranks  to 
move  upon  the  last  strong  position  of  the  enemy,  where 
they  knew  that  many  of  their  number,  ere  many  minutes 
would  pass  by,  must  meet  death.  As  the  troops  were 
rapidly  being  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  assaulting 
column  taking  position,  a  bugle  sound  was  heard  within  the 
enemy's  works,  and  in  a  lew  minutes  a  white  liag  was  seen 
moving  upon  the  rebel  ramparts.  AVild  excitement  and 
cheer  after  cheer  went  forth  from  the  ranks  of  the  Fcderi  1 


132  HISTORY    OF    THE 

troops.  It  was  taken  tip  by  regiment  after  regiment,  until 
it  swept  along  the  entire  line.  The  fort  had  surrendered. 
About  this  time  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  Regiment  Lad 
reached  the  battle-ground,  having  started  early  in  the 
morning  prepared  for  engaging  in  the  anticipated  struggle 
of  the  day,  but  only  in  time  to  join  in  the  exultation  of 
joyful  victcry. 

About  ei^hte.'n  thousand  prisoners  were  taken,  thirty-one 

thousand  small  arms,  and  about  eighty  cannon,  besides  large 
amounts  of  ordnance,  and  commissary  stores. 

The  importance  of  this  victory  was  not  the  mere  pos 
session  of  Fort  Donelson  only,  but  it  gave  us  Xashville 
and  the  undisputed  possession  of  the  Cumberland  river. 
Nashville,  during  the  progress  of  this  battle,  was  intensely 
excited  with  hopes  and  fears.  On  Saturday  a  dispatch  had 
"been  received  that  the  victory  was  theirs;  the  Federal 
troops  hud  been  defeated.  Wild  enthusiasm  and  joyful 
exultation  swept  through  the  city  that  night,  and  the 
church  bells  on  Sabbath  morning  were  calling  the  people 
together  to  give  thanks  for  victory.  But,  in  the  midst  of  it 
all,  the  r.ews  was  received  announcing  "That  Fort  Don 
elson  had  surrendered  'to  the  Yankees/  with  all  its  vast 
stores  of  supplies,  except  Floyd,  who  had  made  good  hit* 
escape."  This  was  like  an  electric  shock,  stunning  and 
paralyzing  the  hearts  oi  the  people,  so  jubilant  just  then 
with  joy. 

The  Sabbath  was  spent  in  burying  the  dead  on  the  battle 
field.  The  Seventy-Eighth  bivouaccd  that  day  in  a  largo 
corn  field,  without  tents  or  shelter.  About  midnight  a  heavy 
rain  set  in,  which  continued  without  intermission  for  two 
days.  The  next  day  the  regiment  moved  into  the  woods 
and  constructed  temporary  shelters  of  rails  and  brush. 

Colonel  Leggett  being  that  day  appointed  "  Post  Com 
mander,"  received  orders  in  the  evening  to  move  his 
"regiment  into  the  town  of  Dover,  and  encamp  it  close  by 
the  river  for  post  duty."  Here  the  regiment  encountered 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  183 

hardships  that  cannot  bo  forgotten.  The  place,  and  the 
only  place  suitable  that  was  near  the  town,  was  just  below 
town,  where  all  its  filth  naturally  collected,  and  where  dead 
rebels  had  been  buried  less  than  a  foot  deep,  and  the  mud 
extended  still  deeper.  The  stench  was  so  great  that  after 
the  men  had  their  tents  pitched  they  were  seized  with  fits 
of  vomiting.  In  a  few  days  sickness  prevailed  to  such  an 
extent  that  officers  became  alarmed.  General  Leggett  was 
prostrated.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hawks  was  down,  and 
it  was  feared,  beyond  the  hope  of  recovery.  Major 
Carimlinii,  Chaplain  Todd  and  Surgeon  Reeves  were  active 
in  their  effors  to  alleviate  and  better  the  condition  of  the 
men.  The  regiment  remained  here  on  active  duty  until  the 
Gth  of  March.  Many  were  now  upon  the  sick  list,  who 
were  sent  to  the  general  hospital.  The  regiment  had 
received  its  first  installment  of  pay;  letters  from  home 
began  now  to  come  and  cheer  the  soldiers'  heart,  and  drive 
partially  away  home-sickness,  which  nearly  all  must  expe 
rience,  who  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives  leave  their 
families  at  a  great  distance,  and  for  a  long  time.  This 
disease  has  not  been  considered  a  malady,  hence  it  has 
been  used  in  derision;  but  in  the  army  it  is  a  disease  which 
depresses  all  the  feelings  and  energies  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  soldier  sometimes  dies  in  consequence.  Time  will 
only  correct  this,  and  the  soldier  become  more  cheerful,  and 
everything  around  him  present  a  more  lively  appearance. 
It  takes  time  to  make  a  soldier,  and  time  and  experience 
to  learn  how  to  make  the  most  of  everything,  by  way  of 
keeping  the  future  bright,  and  hope  always  buoyant. 

The  little  town  of  Dover  was  not  such  a  place  as  to 
awaken  emotions  of  cheerfulness,  but  everything  to  the 
contrary.  It  is  zone-sided  town,  built  on  a  lull  *idc,  and  is 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Union  sentiment.  It  contains  a  court 
house,  jail,  and  a  small  meeting  house,  besides  about  one 
hundred  other  small  houses,  all  old,  shattered  and  ragged. 
But  few  of  the  inhabitants  remained  at  their  desolate 
homes- 


' 


GENERALS  GRANT  AND  SHERMAN. 


After  the  victory  to  our  arms  at  Fort  Donelson,  Genera! 
Grant  became  popular  and  known  in  the  nation,  and  rose 
to  great  favor  in  the  army. 

Four  years  ago,  and  months  after  the  war  began,  the 
name  of  General  Grant  was  unknown  to  the  world.  He 
had  a  list  of  acquaintances  no  longer  than  any  other  citizen, 
and  it  does  not  appear  that  he  stood  high  among  those  who 
knew  him.  He  was  thought  to  be  an  ordinary  sort  of 
person,  who  would  never  "  set  the  river  a-fire,"  as  the 
saying  is.  He  tried  to  get  a  small  scientific  employment  in 
the'  State  of  Missouri,  but  the  gentlemen  who  had  the  place 
in  their  gift  decided  that  he  was  not  fit  for  it !  Such  was 
their  estimate  of  a  man,  who,  if  he  could  not  serve  a  county, 
was  to  show  that  he  could  save  a  country. 

The  truth  is,  great  men  must  have  great  occasions,  or 
their  greatness  will  remain  unknown,  and  in  most  cases  as 
unknown  to  themselves  as  to  all  the  rest  of  the  world. 
The  poet  Gray  speaks  of  flowers  that  are  born  to  blush 
unseen,  and  which  waste  their  sweetness  on'  the  desert  air ; 
and  so  it  is  with  some  men.  They  have  the  intellect  that  is 
necessary  to  achieve  the  fame  that  comes  from  doing  famous 
deeds,  but  the  opportunity  for  doing  such  deeds  never 
comes  to  them.  So  it  would  have  been  in  the  case  of  Gen 
eral  Grant,  in  all  probability,  if  the  slaveholders  had  not 
sought  to  destroy  the  country.  That  led  to  a  great  war, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  135 

and  as  war  is  the  business  for  which  General  Grant  is  pre 
eminently  qualified,  he  achieved  the  first  place  in  it.  The 
hour  came,  and  the  man  was  not  wanting  to  it. 

General  Grant  had  some  difficulty  in  getting  military 
employment.  His  path  to  usefulness  and  eminence  was 
beset  with  even  more  than  the  usual  difficulties.  His  earlier 
actions  did  not  indicate  any  marked  degree  of  superiority ; 
and  many  men  seemed  to  be  his  superiors  whom  he  has 
long  since  passed,  and  thrown  into  the  shade,  by  the  magni 
tude  and  value  of  his  achievements.  He  has  had  to  pay  for 
the  development  of  his  talents,  which  are  of  the  grave  and 
solid  order,  not  showy  and  superficial.  As  ladies  say  of 
cloths,  his  abilities  "  wash."  They  are  not  of  the  kind  that 
disappear  under  showers,  nor  do  they  fade  in  the  sun. 

It  was  not  until  the  second  year  of  the  war  was  closing 
that  men  began  to  hope  that  the  long-expected  coming  man 
had  come  at  last.  General  Grant's  services  as  commander 
never  were  called  for  until  a  case  become  desperate,  and 
then  he  set  matters  right.  "We  had  failed  in  the  South 
west,  and  he  was  required  to  assume  command  there.  He 
obeyed,  and  after  defeating  the  enemy  in  half  a  dozen 
battles,  he  shut  up  their  army  in  Yicksburg,  and  compelled 
it  to  surrender.  He  was  then  ordered  to  Chattanooga, 
where  the  rebels  had  our  forces  at  bay,  and  he  obeyed,  and 
there  he  served  Bragg  as  previously  he  had  served  Johnston, 
storming  positions  which  had  been  considered  impregnable, 
and  opened  the  way  for  General  Sherman's  grand  march  to 
the  sea-shore,  conquering  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  as  he 
went  "  marching  on."  He  was  ordered  to  Virginia,  where 
we  had  been  baffled  through  three  years.  To  hear  was  to 
obey,  with  him,  and  in  the  spring  of  '64  the  conqueror  of 
Johnston  was  measured  against  Lee.  What  followed  is 
well  known.  He  drove  the  enemy  to  Richmond,  after  a 
series  of  bloody  battles ;  shut  them  up  in  their  lines ; 
defeated  all  their  attempts  to  better  their  condition ;  main 
tained  his  hold  on  the  Confederacy's  throat  with  unflinch 
ing  tenacity ;  and  finally  compelled  the  rebels  to  abandon 


136  HISTORY   OF  THE 

Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  then  to  surrender  in  the 
field,  the  "invincible"  Lee  himself  signing  articles  of 
capitulation.  These  were  his  deeds,  and  they  have  made 
an  impression  on  the  popular  mind  that  will  endure,  and 
which  finds  expression  in  hearty  action  as  he  journeys 
through  the  country,  though  he  probably  cares  less  for 
attentions  than  any  eminent  American  who  has  lived  since 
Washington.  The  latter  was  a  reserved  man,  and  had  been 
trained  in  a  state  of  society  in  which  distinctions  were  very 
strong,  even  stronger  than  they  are  in  England  at  this  day, 
and  there  was  little  that  was  democratieal  in  his  nature  as 
in  his  training.  But  General  Grant's  reserve  is  simply  a 
natural  feeling.  He  is  fond  of  quiet,  and  has  never  mad0 
a  speech  in  his  life,  and  it  seems  that  he  is  destined  never 
to  make  one.  Had  he  been  born  in  Sparta  he  could  not 
have  been  more  laconic  than  he  is,  though  he  is  a  native  of 
a  country  in  which  everybody  is  supposed  to  talk,  and  to 
talk  much. 

General  Grant  is  in  his  forty-fourth  year,  as  he  was  bora 
on  the  27th  of  April,  1822,  in  Ohio.  It  was  not  until  1859 
that  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Galena,  in  Illinois,  where 
he  embarked  in  the  leather  and  saddlery  business,  his  father 
being  his  partner.  His  previous  attempts  in  civil  pursuit? 
had  all  been  failures,  but  at  Galena  he  was  successful.  He 
left  the  regular  army,  in  which  he  had  become  Captain,  in 
1854.  He  married  in  1843,  his  bride  being  Miss  Dent,  a 
lady  of  Missouri.  He  resumed  military  life  in  1861,  not 
long  after  the  beginning  of  the  war.  His  first  office  was 
that  of  Adjutant-General  of  Illinois,  and  his  first  field 
service  was  in  command  of  the  Twenty-First  Illinois 
Infantry.  As  his  qualities  became  known  he  was  promoted, 
until  he  became  the  foremost  man  of  the  American  world. 
He  owes  his  success  to  his  honesty  and  tenacity  of  purpose, 
as  much  as  to  his  rare  abilities  as  a  soldier,  and  hence  his 
career  affords  matter  of  profitable  study  to  the  youth  of  the 
republic,  who  can  see  in  it  that  integrity  and  resolution  are 
necessary  to  conduct  men  to  fame  and  usefulness. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.   V.   I.  137 

GENERAL    SHERMAN. 

"\Vitli  the  single  exception  of  General  Grant,  no  man 
stands  so  high  as  General  Sherman  in  the  estimation  of 
the  country,  when  military  merit  is  considered.  Both  of 
them  are  able  soldiers,  but  they  are  very  unlike,  mentally  ; 
and  their  moral  qualities  also  present  remarkable  points  of 
contrast.  General  Grant  is  singularly  quiet  and  retiring. 
General  Sherman,  without  being  encroaching  or  obtrusive, 
is  as  singularly  demonstrative.  He  does  not  speak  because 
lie  thinks  that  his  opinions  are  of  value,  or  that  others 
are  anxious  to  know  them,  but  because  it  is  his  nature  to 
bo  bold,  frank  and  open.  He  acts  according  to  the  law  of 
his  being  in  talking  freely,  as  General  Grant  does  in 
keeping  silent.  They  have  strong  points  of  resemblance, 
nevertheless, — for  both  are  honest  men,  and  both  have 
rendered  incalculable  service  to  the  republic.  It  would  bo 
hard  to  say  which  of  the  two  we  could  best  spare,  and 
therefore  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  we  shall  have  them  with  us 
for  many  years. 

General  Sherman  is  in  the  prime  of  life.  He  was  born 
on  the  8 tli  of  February,  1820,  at  Lancaster,  Ohio,  he  being, 
like  General  Grant,  a  "  Buckeye, "  as  Ohioans  are  called. 
He  entered  West  Point  Academy  in  1836,  and  was  there 
graduated  in  1840,  standing  well  in  his  class.  The  artillery 
was  his  arm  of  the  service,  and  he  served  in  Florida,  South 
Carolina,  California  and  Louisiana.  Like  Grant,  he  never 
got  higher  than  the  rank  of  Captain  in  the  old  regular 
army;  and  then,  again  like  Grant,  he  retired  and  went  int) 
business.  He  was  at  San  Francisco,  manager  of  a  banking 
house,  from  1853  to  1857. 

In  1858  he  took  charge  of  the  State  Military  Academy 
of  Louisiana,  but  he  left  the  office  early  in  1861,  when  it 
became  apparent  that  the  disuniomsts  were  getting  control 
of  the  South.  "  On  no  earthly  account,  "  he  wrote  to  the 
Governor  of  Louisiana,  "will  I  do  any  act,  or  think  any 
thought,  hostile  to,  or  in  defiance  of  the  old  government 
of  the  L^nitcd  States. "  Such  was  the  emphatic  language 


138  HISTORY   OF   THE 

of  this  true  patriot.  lie  went  to  Washington  and  was 
made  Colonel,  and  commanded  a  brigade  at  Bull  Run, 
which  behaved  well.  He  was  subsequently  promoted,  and 
employed  at  different  points  of  the  West  and  South-west, 
and  made  a  vigorous  attack  on  Yicksburg,  at  the  close  of 
1862,  which  failed.  He  was  the  real  hero  of  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  in  April,  18G2,  General  Grant  declaring  that  the 
defeat  of  the  enemy  was  owing  to  him. 

In  the  operations  that  led  to  the  fall  of  Vicksburg, 
General  Sherman  had  a  conspicuous  part ;  and  not  less 
prominent  and  useful  were  his  actions  in  that  important 
campaign  which  saw  the  defeat  of  Bragg  and  Longstrcet  in 
Tennessee,  and  which  caused  1863  to  end  so  triumphantly 
to  our  arms.  In  the  following  winter  he  was  actively 
employed  at  different  points,  and  ever  with  effect. 

When  General  Grant  proceeded  to  the  East  to  take  com 
mand  in  Virginia,  lie  was  succeeded  in  the  South-west  by 
General  Sherman.  The  two  Generals  formed  a  grand  plan 
of  operations  for  1864 ;  and  on  the  7th  of  May  General 
Sherman  began  his  forward  movement  at  the  head  of  98,799 
soldiers  and  254  guns.  Atlanta  was  the  immediate  object 
of  the  movement ;  and  after  almost  four  months  of  hard 
marching,  and  harder  fighting,  Atlanta  was  taken,  on  the 
2d  of  September.  It  was  a  tremendous  campaign,  but  the 
skill  of  the  General,  admirably  supported  by  the  bravery  of 
his  men  and  the  talents  of  his  Lieutenants,  surmounted 
everything,  and  the  enemy  felt  the  blows  dealt  them  in 
Georgia  throughout  the  whole  Confederacy.  General 
Sherman's  reputation  as  a  great  soldier  was  admitted  in  all 
parts  of  the  world.  That  reputation  was  soon  to  be  im 
mensely  increased. 

Believing  that  nothing  was  done  while  anything  remained 
to  be  done,  General  Sherman  prepared  to  move  upon 
Savannah ;  and  in  November,  at  the  head  of  an  army  said 
to  have  been  almost  70,000  strong,  he  began  a  march  that 
astounded  the  country.  Place  after  place  fell  before  his 
advance,  every  effort  of  the  rebels  to  resist  proving  vain. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  130 

On  the  21st  of  December  lie  entered  Savannah.  That  place 
lie  made  the  base  of  farther  operations,  the  success  of  which 
should  still  more  completely  demonstrate  the  weakness  ot 
the  enemy. 

About  the  middle  of  January,  1865,  this  great  commander 
began  the  last  of  his  great  marches,  the  object  of  which 
was  the  conquest  of  the  Carolina*.  Onward  he  went,  tho 
Carolinians  being  as  little  able  to  stay  his  advance  as  the 
Georgians  had  been.  Charleston,  which  had  defied  113  for 
four  years,  WPS  abandoned  without  a  fight,  so  completely 
had  his  combinations  isolated  it.  Columbia,  the  capital  of 
South  Carolina,  where  secession  had  been  hatched,  was  taken 
and  partially  destroyed.  In  short,  South  Carolina,  that  land 
of  invincible  chivalry,  was  subdued  in  a  few  weeks.  Then 
came  Xorth  Carolina's  turn  ;  and  old  Rip  Van  Winkle  was 
waked  up  by  the  noise  of  the  Federal  army.  That  State 
was  soon  at  the  (General's  mercy;  and  preparations  had 
been-made  for  the  march  of  his  forces  into  Virginia,  there 
to  take  part  in  the  destruction  of  Lee,  when  General  Grant 
took  Richmond,  and  forced  Lee  to  surrender.  Shortly 
afterwards  General  Johnston  surrendered  to  General 
Sherman,  which  act  of  rendition  virtually  put  an  end  to 
the  war. 

General  Sherman  is  an  indefatigable  worker,  as  well  as  a 
bold  and  scientific  fighting  man.  His  victories  were  as 
much  due  to  his  industry  as  to  his  skill  and  his  valor.  lie 
showed  immense  mental  resources  on  every  occasion.  He 
has  a  true  genius  for  war,  being  a  born  soldier.  lie  takes 
great  care  of  his  troops,  and  they  are  much  attached  to  him 
in  return.  He  wins  the  hearts  of  those  whom  he  commands, 
and  in  that  way  he  is  enabled  to  win  great  victories.  His 
men  ever  were  ready  to  go  through  fire  and  water  for  him, 
and  did  so  go  on  an  hundred  fields. 


THE  REGIMENT  LEAVIXG  DOVER  AXD  LAXDIXO" 
XEAR  FORT  IIEXRY. 

THENCE    TO    PITTSBUEG   LANDING,    AND    BATTLE    OF    SIIILOII. 


The  regiment  left  Dover,  March  7th,  1802,  and  encamped 
that  night  at  Bell's  .Iron  Furnace.  The  hills  around  were 
rich  with  iron  ore,  which  were  a  source  of  great  wealth  to 
the  owner.  The  land  is  poor  and  unsuitable  for  agricul 
tural  purposes,  consequently  few  improvements  were  seen 
on  the  march.  The  furnace  was  a  very  extensive  establish 
ment  and  turned  out  immense  quantities  of  iron,  which  was 
then  being  appropriated  as  material  of  war;  it  was  there 
fore  destroyed,  being  burned  down  by  command  of  General 
Grant. 

The  regiment  bivouaced  in  the  valley,  and'  slept  comfort 
ably  under  the  frosty  canopy*;  any  place  was  regarded  as 
better  than  the  miasmatic  camping  grounds  of  the  Cum 
berland.  The  next  morning  was  clear  and  beautiful,  and 
soon  the  frost  disappeared  from  the  blankets,  before  the 
extensive  fires  built  of  the  many  negro  huts,  around  the 
furnace ;  these  huts  had  been  deserted  a  few  days  before, 
by  their  occupants,  some  taking  refuge  in  the  army  and 
many  having  been  driven  away  to  other,  but  more  secure 
places.  That  day  after  a  tedious  march  over  hills  and 
bad  roads,  and  swampy  valleys,  we  encamped  at  Metal 
Landing,  about  four  miles  above  Fort  Henry  on  the  Ten- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  141 

nosscc ;  licre  the  regiment,  with  General  Low  Wallace's 
Division,  remained  for  several  days,  which  time  was 
spent  in  almost  constant  drill.  The  regiment  here  expe 
rienced  much  disagreeable  weather,  one  day  was  balmy 
warmth,  another  rain,  another  snow  storms  and  freezing 
cold.  Here  occurred  the  first  death  in  the  regiment, 
George  Ivitchey  of  A  Company,  a  young  man.  of  much 
promise  and  highly  esteemed  by  all.  Previously  he  had 
been  sent  to  the  hospital,  where  he  so  far  recovered  as  to 
bo  able  to  go  to  his  home  a  few  weeks,  where  he  could 
recover  his  health  more  rapidly,  but  instead  of  embracing 
the  privilege  of  a  furlough,  he  return  to  his  regiment, 
where  in  a  few  days  he  died.  Here  the  first  loyal  seeds 
was  sown  in  rebel  soil  by  the  regiment,  the  first  sacrifice  to 
liberty  made,  and  hereafter  in  almost  every  encampment 
throughout  the  South  some  one  was  left,  as  a  testimony  to 
devoted  patriotism,  and  against  the  purposes  of  wicked 
rebellion. 

At  this  time  the  seeds  of  disease  and  debility  planted  at 
Dover,  and  by  hardships  and  unaccustomed  exposure,  began 
to  tell  upon  the  regiment.  Men  were  not  inured  to  the 
hardships  and  exposures  of  field  and  camp  life;  transition 
from  civil  to  military  life  had  been  too  great  and  sudden ; 
the  climate  and  the  season  were  unhealthy;  and  cold, 
constant  rains  prevailed,  which  circumstances  produced 
much  sickness. 

On  the  16th  day  of  March  the  Division  left  Metal  Landing 
for  rittshurg  Landing,  arriving  at  the  latter  place  the  night 
of  the  17th.  The  regiment  did  not  disembark  from  the 
bouts,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  went  to  Crunipt's 
Landing,  six  miles  below,  where  it  disembarked  and  en 
camped  in  the  woods,  about  one  mile  from  the  Landing. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  regiment  was  now  and 
will  hereafter  be  connected  with  the  Third  Division,  under 
General  Lew  Wallace.  Here  the  regiment  spent  its  time  in 
drill  and  reviews.  Some  men  became  so  reduced  from  camp 
disease  (which  defied  all  the  efforts  and  skill  of  our 


142  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Surgeons)  that  it  became  necessary  to  make  application  for 
their  discharge  from  the  service,  which  was  favorably  con 
sidered,  hut  not  returned  till  many  of  the  men  had  received 
their  final  discharge,    and  had  gone  to  their   last   resting 
place;  and    many,  we  have   reason  to  hope,  "to  that  rest 
which  remaineth   for  the   people  of  (rod."     At  this   time 
many  of  the  officers  were  sick.    Captain  Talley,  of  Company 
C,  was  taken  down  with  a  violent  attack  of  typhoid  fever, 
and  being  sent  to  the  general  hospital  at  Savannah,  died  in 
a   few    days.     General   Leggett,    then    commander   of  tin.' 
regiment,  although  severely  sick  and  unfit  for  duty,  could 
always  be  seen  encouraging  the  men  and  setting  an  example 
to  officers,  in  energy,  cheerfulness  and  resolution  to  meet 
trials  and  difficulties  with  an  unconquerable   will;  he  well 
knew  that  ennui  and  inactivity  fed  disease  in  the  army,  and 
that  the  best  antidote  was  to  bear  up  against  it.     XI any  men 
at  once  gave  up  and  lay  down,  se-emingly  with   the  resolu 
tion   to    die,  and   such   most  generally  did  die ;  many,  by 
cheerfulness  and  a  resolution  that  they  would  not  give  up  to 
disease,  thereby  threw  it  off,  and  became  well  and  robust. 
Those    who    survived    the    iirst    attack   of  camp    disease, 
generally  become  afterwards  strong  and  robust  men.     It- 
seemed  to  be  a  kind  of  a  chrysalis  state  through  which 
men  had  to  pass  in  order  to  become  fitted  for  military  life, 
and  adaptation  to  climate. 

On  the  31st  of  March  the  Division  left  this  place  and 
moved  to  Adamsville,  eight  miles  from  Pittsburg  Landing. 
The  sick  were  left  at  Crump's  Landing,  in  charge  of 
Assistant-Surgeon  Mendenhall.  Here  many  died  and  some 
were  transferred  to  Xorthern  hospitals. 

The  design  of  moving  the  Division  to  Adamsville  was  to 
protect  the  flank  of  the  army  under  General  Grant,  then 
concentrating  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  The  road  occupied 
by  General  Lew.  "Wallace's  Division  was  the  main  thor 
oughfare  to  Purely  and  Corinth,  where  the  rebel  army 
under  Generals  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  and  P>canregard 
was  concentrated.  The  rebel  outposts  extended  about 
twenty  miles  from  the  main  army,  and  but  a  few  miles 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.  V.    V.    I.  143 

from  our  pickets.  The  first  night  the  regiment  encamped 
at  Aclamsville  General  Leggett  took  one  hundred  men  of 
his  regiment  and  marched  in  the  darkness  of  midnight 
eight  or  ten  miles  to  a  creek,  where  there  Avas  a  rebel 
encampment,  burned  the  bridge  and  territied  the  rebels  so 
that  they  fled  to  Purdy.  Every  moment  while  at  this 
place,  an  attack  was  expected,  consequently  the  pickets 
were  strengthened,  and  every  precaution  observed.  Everv 
morning  at  dawn  the  troops  were  all  up  and  in  battle  line; 
and  a  few  more  regiments  were  brought  up  as  re-enforce 
ments. 

A  few  nights  before  the  attack  upon  our  army  at 
Pittshurg  Landing,  rebel  scouts  were  known  to  have 
nearly  encircled  our  camps  an-d  the  limits  of  the  Division, 
and  strange  and  wonderful  it  seems  to  veteran  soldiers  now, 
that  little  effort  was  made  towards  fortifications.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  war  the  same  troops  would  not  have 
pitched  camp  till  good  works  had  been  completed,  and  the 
entire  limit  of  the  encampment  well  protected.  The  same 
was  the  condition  of  the  main  army  at  Pittsburg  Landing  - 
no  preparations  for  defense  had  been  made.  In  a  council  of 
war  on  the  part  of  the  rebel  officers,  it  was  decided  by 
Beauregard  and  others  to  make  the  attack  upon  the  army 
on  the  flank  at  Aclamsville,  but  Albert  Sidney  Johnston 
being  chief  in  rank,  overruled  the  decision,  and  ordered  the 
attack  to  be  made  upon  the  main  army  at  Pittsburg  Land 
ing,  regarding  the  force  at  Adamsville  as  too  trilling  to 
waste  time  upon ;  a  division  of  six  thousand  men  would 
soon  have  been  destroyed  before  an  army  of  ninety  thousand. 

It  was  reported  by  rebel  prisoners  and  citizens,  that 
General  Beauregard  had  been  in  our  camp,  both  at  Pittsburg 
Landing  and  Adamsville,  as  a  peddler  of  pies  and  cakes,  a. 
day  or  t\vo  before  tho  attack  upon  our  army. 

15ATTLE    OF    SIIILOH. 

On  Sabbath  morning,  April  6th,  the  terrible  conflict 
commenced  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  Our  army,  with  General 
Lew  Wallace's  Division,  which  was  yet  at  Adamsville, 


144  HISTORY   OF    THE 

numbered  between  fifty  and  sixty  thousand  men.  The  rebels 
ninety  thousand.  The  army  encamped  around  Shiloh 
Church,  about  four  miles  from  the  Landing.  Our  troops 
exhibited  great  carelessness  in  having  no  defenses  con 
structed,  and  permitting  themselves  thus  to  be  surprised, 
so  that  the  rebels  had  possession  of  much  of  our  line  of 
battle,  before  our  forces  had  time  to  form  in  line.  The  three 
divisions  of  Sherman,  Prentiss  and  M'Clcrnand  were  in  the 
advance,  and  formed  a  line  taking  in  all  the  roads  towards 
Corinth  and  Purely.  General  Iluiiburt  and  Smith  were 
in  the  rear. 

The  rebel  army  on  Saturday  night  encamped  within  a 
few  rods  of  our  pickets,  and  could  hear  distinctly  our 
Orderly  Sergeants  calling  the  rolls  at  tattoo.  General 
Eeauregard  commanded  the  right  of  the  rebel  army,  Gen 
eral  Breckinridge  the  left,  and.  General  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston  the  center. 

On  Sabbath,  at  morning  dawn,  the  pickets  of  Prentiss 
and  Sherman  were  driven  in,  and  the  rebels  came  in  a  swift 
overwhelming  rush.  The  "long  roll"  sounded  through 
the  camps  of  the  Federal  army,  but  ere  our  men  got  into 
line,  the  long  sweeping  lines  of  the  enemy  were  pressing 
forward  with  trilling  resistance,  and  their  shot  and  shell 
came  crashing  into  our  camps  thick  and  fast.  The  enemy 
at  first  came  marching  by  the  flank,  halted,  then  faced  to 
the  rear,  and  immediately  about-faced,  within  a  few  rods 
of  our  -lines,  sent  their  volleys  into  our  ranks  that  were 
standing  in  line  of  battle.  We  were  completely  surprised, 
supposing  them  to  be  General  Lew.  Wallace's  Division, 
coming  from  Adamsvillc,  -taking  position  in  front.  So 
sudden  was  the  dash  of  the  enemy  that  some  of  our  officers 
and  men  were  bayonetted  in  their  tents. 

General  Grant  did  not  arrive  upon  the  field  till  half-past 
eight  in  the  morning,  consequently  there  could  be  little 
<j'oncentration  of  action.  Each  General  had  as  much  as 
he  could  do  to  hold  his  men  to  the  work,  and  meet  witli 
lirmness  the  shock. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I.  145 

Prentiss'  command  was  flanked  by  the  enemy  and  soon 
enclosed,  and  thus  four  thousand  of  his  men  were  taken 
prisoners.  General  Sherman  fought  with  the  most  terrible 
desperation,  but  being  overwhelmed  was  compelled  to  retreat 
to  save  his  Division  from  annihilation.  The  fighting  on 
the  part  of  McClernand  was  most  obstinate  and  desperate. 

By  noon  nearly  all  our  batteries  had  lost  their  horses,  and 
many  guns  were  captured,  and  the  whole  line  driven  back 
to  llurlbut's  and  Smith's  Divisions,  where  the  fighting 
become  most  deadly  to  bath  armies.  Albert  Sidney 
Johnston  was  killed  in  leading  a  charge  upon  our  lines. 
Here  the  rebels  were  repulsed  three  or  four  times,  but 
succeeded  in  breaking  them  finally.  Slowly  our  shattered 
lines  were  driven  back  toward  the  Landing.  About  5  P. 
M.,  Major  Webster,  of  General  Grant's  Staff,  saw  that  the 
work  was  nearly  done,  and  our  army  almost  completely 
defeated  and  routed,  collected  all  the  guns  he  could,  and 
artillerists  from  the  different  commands,  and  placed  them  in 
a  crescent  form.  When  the  rebels  came  charging  toward 
the  Landing,  and  flushed  with  victory,  thinking  before  dark 
to  end  the  conflict  by  complete  disaster  to  the  Union  army, 
twenty -one  guns  broke  forth  at  once,  and  poured  such  a 
deadly  fire  into  the  rebel  ranks  that  they  recoiled..  The 
gunboats  at  this  time  getting  the  range,  sent  their  Parrott 
shells  thick  and  fast  into  the  rebel  ranks,  that  made  them 
retreat  in  confusion  beyond  their  range. 

At  this  time  light  and  hope  began  to  break  from  the  dark 
cloud  that  hung  with  terror  over  our  men.  The  sun  was 
fast  declining,  night  was  near  to  stay  the  enemy's  final 
success.  One  of  General  BuelPs  Divisions,  under  command 
of  General  Nelson,  was  rapidly  crossing  the  river  and 
taking  position.  Another  Division  was  up  and  ready  to 
cross.  General  Lew.  Wallace's  Division  was  also  rapidly 
pouring  in,  and  taking  position  upon  the  extreme  right,. 
The  enemy  made  repeated  efforts  to  charge  before  dark, 
but  were  driven  back  with  frightful  slaughter.  They 

10 


146  BISTORT   OF   THE 

finally  fell  back  to  our  camps,  and  waited  the  morning  light 

to  complete  Beauregard's  "hour  job,"  as  he  promised  them, 

SECOND  DAY'S  BATTLE. 

The  following  letter,  from  Jasper  S.  Laughlin,  Sergeant 
Company  E,  will  give  in  detail,  a.  sufficient  account  of  the 
second  day's  fighting,  which  opened  at  daylight,  by  General 
Lew.  "Wallace,  on  the  right : 

<:0n  Sabbath  morning  we  were  aroused  from  our  blanket 
couches  by  the  booming  of  cannon  in  the  direction  of 
Pittsburg  Landing.  The  roar  was  incessant,  and  shook  the 
earth.  In  the  interval  between  the  discharges  of  artillery, 
the  rolling  of  musketry  vollics  could  be  distinctly  heard, 
and  then  were  swallowed  up  by  the  renewed  thunder  of 
the  cannon.  All  were  aware  that  a  terrible  fight  was  in 
progress  ;  yet  the  regiment  was  ignorant  of  the  magnitude 
of  the  attack,  and  the  part  they  were  to  play  in  the  bloody 
drama,  until  about  noon,  when  an  order  came  for  us  to 
reinforce  the  assailed  position.  Unfortunately  for  the 
Severity-Eighth,  it  had  not  been  furnished  with  transpor 
tation  of  its  own  until  three  days  before,  and  then  vro  were 
furnished  with  about  forty  wild  rnulcs,  many  of  which  hn<l 
never  been  under  harncis ;  these  had  to  be  caught  and 
harnessed,  and  the  delay  occasioned  thereby  threw  our 
regiment  in  the  rear,  and  it  did  not  arrive  upon  the  battle 
field  until  9  o'clock  that  night,  when  we  formed  in  battle 
line,  and  rested  upon  our  arms  till  morning,  unsheltered 
from  a  furious  storm  of  rain.  The  first  day's  fight  was  now 
over,  and  almost  decided  in  favor  of  the  rebels,  but  how 
they  were  to  get  over  our  guns  and  gunboats  at  the  Laud 
ing  the  next  morning,  was  surely  a  puzzling  question  to  the 
rebel  Generals  that  night. 

"About  5  o'clock  Sabbath  afternoon  our  prospects  looked 
gloomy  and  dark.  Forty  thousand  of  our  men  had  stub 
bornly  contested,  foot  by  foot,  the  ground  of  a  widely 
extended  camp,  with  a  hundred  thousand  of  the  best  aimed 
and  equipped  trccps  the  Southern  Confederacy  ever  sent  to 
Hie  field.  They  had  fought  all  day,  without  breakfast, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  147 

dinner  or  supper.  The  enemy,  who  were  in  sufficient 
numbers  to  relieve  each  other  in  the  fight,  had  feasted  all 
da}r  on  cheese,  cakes,  liquors  and  canned  fruits,  which.  th« 
abandoned  sutler  stores  furnished  in  great  abundant-*. 
They  were  flushed  with  their  success,  and  had  maddened 
themselves  by  drinking  the  liquors  they  had  captured, 
mixing  it  with  gunpowder.  Cheer  after  cheer  went  up 
from  their  ranks.  They  were  now  about  half  a  mile  from 
the  river,  and  still  pressing  on.  Our  Generals  rode  through 
the  disordered  and  thin  ranks  of  our  exhausted  men,  many 
of  whom  were  lying  on  the  ground  too  weary  to  move, 
striving  to  animate  and  encourage  them.  Here  our  artillery 
saved  the  day.  All  the  batteries  that  had  been  brought  off 
the  field,  and  the  siege  guns  and  heavy  mortars,  which  had 
not  been  moved  from  the  river,  were  brought  into  action, 
and  in  front  of  our  wearied  ranks.  The  gunboats  also 
opened  their  broadsides  upon  the  enemy,  and  rained  doww 
a  storm  of  shot,  grape  and  shell  which  has  no  precedent  in 
the  records  of  artillery  warfare.  The  thunder  was  terrific. 
It  seemed  as  though  all  the  elements  of  destruction  in 
nature  had  united  their  power,  rage  and  violence.  Tht 
rebels  at  first  lay  flat,  but  finally  retreated.  Their  men  who 
were  captured  tell  incredible  stories  about  the  effect  of  our 
tire ;  such  as  that  a  shell  from  one  of  our  mortars,  falling 
among  a  dense  mass,  killed  and  wounded  one  thousand  men. 

"Buell's  forces  began  to  come  in  about  dark,  and  during- 
the  night  our  plans  were  arranged  for  the  next  day.  In  tlit 
morning  our  Generals  made  the  attack  simultaneously 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  enemy.  General  Lc\v.  Wallace, 
with  his  Division  on  the  right,  the  Third  Brigade  under 
General  AVhittlesey,  being  on  the  right  of  the  Division. 
General  Wallace  kept  the  Brigade  in  partial  concealment 
from  the  enemy,  to  meet  the  purposes  of  the  rebels  in 
flanking  the  right.  This  was  a  very  painful  position,  and  a 
trying  one  to  the  soldiers.  It  made  it  necessary  that  wt 
should  remain  part  of  the  time  inactive,  under  the  fire  of  th* 
rebel  batteries  and  infantry.  Thus  exposed  to  ull  the 


148  HISTOKY    OF   THE 

dangers  of  the  conflict,  and  surrounded  "by  all  its  terror?, 
and  at  the  same  time  deprived  from  the  stimulus  of  the 
excitement  which  results  from  an  active  participation  in  the 
tight,  is  truly  a  trying  position. 

"The  expected  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  outflank  the  right 
was  finally  made  *  when  they  found  that  our  center,  against 
which  they  had  been  directing  their  main  efforts,  could  not 
he  broken,  they  brought  up  rapidly  s^me  of  their  guns, 
and  began  playing  upon  our  right,  preparatory  to  making 
ii  charge.  This  was  a  sore  time  for  the  Third  Brigade, 
which  was  unsheltered  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  When 
the  batteries  opened  upon  us,  we  all  laid  as  close  to  mother 
earth  as  possible,  while  the  shot  and  shell  flew  whizzing 
over  our  heads.  Had  we  been  standing  erect,  it  seems  as 
though  every  man  would  have  been  cut  down.  As  it  was, 
we  were  wonderfully  exempt  from  casualties,  losing  only 
one  man  killed,  and  a  few  wounded.  Colonel  Leggett  had 
three  bullet  holes  made  in  his  clothes.  Color,  el  Whittlesey, 
seeing  our  danger,  unsupported  by  artillery,  and  ten 
regiment-*  could  be  seen  preparing  to  charge  upon  us, 
immediately  had  a  battery  of  six  guns  brought  up.  Let  me 
assure  you  the  sight  of  those  war  dogs  coming  to  our 
assistance,  was  truly  refreshing.  They  were  quickly  placed 
in  position,  and  opened  upon  the  enemy  with  such  destruc 
tive  effect  that  they  soon  broke  and  retreated.  They  began 
now  to  retreat  along  the  whole  line,  leaving  the  field,  and 
the  victory  with  us. 

"  From  th<j  far  East  and  the  distant  West  the  cheering 
intelligence  reaches  us  that  our  brothers  in  arms  are  not 
idle ;  but  that,  with  hearts  to  dare  and  arms  to  strike,  arc 
pressing  down  from  all  sides  upon  the  foe.  This  is  very 
encouraging.  It  gives  us  confidence  in  ourselves,,  confi 
dence  in  our  Generals,  and  confidence  in  the  favor  of  Prov- 
derice." 

After  the  battle  the  regiment  encamped  upon  the  extreme 
right  of  the  field  of  battle,  and  bivouaced  several  days 
without  shelter,  save  such  as  the  woods  afforded.  It  rained 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   I.  149 

almost  night  and  day,  which  caused  afterward  much  sick 
ness  in  the  regiment.  Although  the  regiment  had  suffered 
but  little  on  the  field  of  battle,  it  was  not  spared  much  sick 
ness  and  heavy  fatality  while  in  camp  at  Shiloh.  "We  lost 
many  of  the  best  men  in  the  regiment  from  disease. 


THE  SIEGE  OF  CORINTH. 

ITS  EVACUATION  —  THE  APPEARANCE  OF  THE  TOWN  —  THE  REBELS 
PURSUED — REBEL  VANDALISM  —  EIGHT-DAY  MEN — A  SERMON 
FOUND  IN  CORINTH. 

At  Shiloh,  where  our  army  had  been  encamped  for  weeks 
before  being  attacked  by  General  Johnston,  our  Generals 
were  guilty  of  unpardonable  neglect  in  having  done  nothing 
for  the  defense  of  the  place  and  their  camps,  by  establishing 
a  line  of  fortifications.  After  the  battle,  and  the  arrival  of 
General  Ilalleck,  the  army  commenced  their  labors  with 
the  axe,  the  pick  and  the  spade,  and  constructed  and  built 
line  upon  line  of  works  from  Shiloli  to  Corinth.  Day  and 
night  the  troops  were  engaged  in  digging. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  was  still  retained  in  Lew.  Wallace's 
Division,  which  was  the  extreme  right  of  the  army.  It  was 
very  important  that  the  right  flank  be  well  guarded,  as 
here,  important  highways  led  to  Corinth  and  Purdy,  which 
made  a  convenient  and  ready  communication  to  cur  army. 
In  consequence  many  scouting  parties  had  to  be  sent  out 
daily  to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy  and  to  guard 
the  flank  of  the  army.  This  imposed  heavy  duty  upon 
the  Seventy-Eighth  regiment.  Colonel  Leggett  being 
known  as  a  man  of  great  energy,  was  generally  selected 
for  difficult  and  dangerous  enterprises. 

The  siege  was  fairly  inaugurated  on  the  30th  of  April, 
and  ended  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  May.  During  this 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   T.   L 

time  the  rogiment  seldom  slept  two  nights  in  the  san» 
<Kurip.  During  the  night  they  would  build  works;  the 
noxt  morning  they  would  move  forward  to  a  new  position 
and  go  through  the  sams  operation.  Almost  a  constant 
cannonading  was  kept  up  along  the  whole  line  from  right 
to  left.  Corinth  at  length  hecame  almost  encompassed  by 
our  army,  and  but  one  avenue  was  left  the  rebels  for  escape, 
which  was  the  Charleston  Railroad,  and  it  would  seem  that 
General  Ilalleck  intended  this  to  be  left  open  for  that 
purpose,  of  which  opportunity  they  availed  themselves 
the  morning  of  the  30th  of  May. 

The  two  armies  were  now  about  equal  in  numbers,  and 
despite  the  boast  that  one  rebel  is  equal  to  two  Yankee*, 
the  Southern  Generals  again  declined  to  fight  us  when 
nearly  of  equal  strength  and  advantage.  Although  pro 
tected  by  entrenchments  in  commanding  positions,  and 
capable  of  being  made  next  to  invulnerable,  Corinth  Lag 
been  added  to  the  long  list  of  strongholds  which  have  fallen 
into  our  hands  without  much  bloodshed  einee  the  com 
mencement  of  the  present  year.  Manassas,  Yorktown, 
Norfolk,  Bowling  Green,  Nashville,  Columbus,  Little  Rock 
and  Corinth  —  each  capable  of  a  lengthened  defense,  yet  all 
captured  with  but  little  resistance.  Corinth  was  indeed  a 
stronghold,  and  its  importance  could  not  have  been  over 
estimated.  It  is  the  key  that  unlocks  the  cotton  State*, 
and  gives  us  command  of  almost  the  entire  system  of 
Southern  railroads,  and  nothing  but  despair  could  have 
prompted  its  abandonment.  While  there  was  a  hope  for 
the  Confederacy,  policy  would  have  compelled  the  insurgent! 
to  hold  the  town. 

ON  *THE   MARCH. 

About  half-past  six  in  the  morning  orders  to  march 
were  received,  and  at  seven  the  greater  portion  of  the  men 
were  outside  their  works,  cautiously  feeling  their  way 
through  the  dense  under-brush  which  intervened  between 
our  fortifications  and  the  defenses  of  Corinth,  but  after 


152  HISTORY   OF   THE 

advancing  half  a  mile  they  came  to  an  open  space,  and  the 
enemy's  works,  abandoned  and  desolate,  burst  upon  their 
astonished  gaze;  the  sight  was  entirely  unexpected.  The 
opening  was  made  by  the  rebels,  who  had  felled  the  timber 
for  about  three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  their  entrench 
ments,  for  the  double  purpose  of  obstructing  our  progress, 
and  giving  them  a  fair  view  of  our  column  when  in  riflo 
range. 

The  view  from  the  highest  point  of  the  rebel  works, 
immediately  in  front  of  Davies'  Division,  was  truly  grand. 
The  -circle  of  vision  was  at  least  five  miles  in  extent, 
stretching  from  the  extreme  left,  and  the  magnificent 
display  of  banners,  the  bristling  of  shining  bayonets,  and 
the  steady  step  of  handsomely  attired  soldiers,  presented  a 
pageant  which  has  seldom  been  witnessed  on  this  continent. 

Upon  many  of  the  regimental  ensigns  were  printed 
"Wilson's  Creek,"  " Fort Donelson,"  and  "Shiloh,"  which 
mottoes  were  waved  in  the  breeze.  Those  who  passed 
through  all  these  trying  ordeals  unscathed,  or  who  received 
honorable  wounds  in  either,  in  future  can  look  back  upon 
a  life  devoted  to  their  country's  service,  and  feel  that  proud 
satisfaction  which  is  denied  to  others  not  less  patriotic,  but 
less  fortunate.  In  future  pageants  in  honor  of  the  nation's 
birthday,  when  the  last  relics  of  former  struggles  have 
become  extinct,  and  when  these  shall  be  bowed  down  with 
age,  they  will  be  their  country's  honored  guests,  and  receive 
that  consideration  due  their  noble  deeds. 

CORINTH. 

The  troops  from  every  direction  marched  toward  a  com 
mon  center  —  Corinth  —  and  as  they  neared  each  other 
friends  recognized  friends  whom  they  had  not  seen  for 
weeks  or  months,  though  separated  but  a  few  miles ;  greet 
ings  were  exchanged.  As  regiments  met  for  the  first  time 
since  leaving  the  bloody  fields  of  Donelson  and  Shiloh, 
cheer  after  cheer  resounded  through  the  forest,  and  were 
echoed  and  re-echoed  by  the  hills,  as  if  earth  itself  desired 
to  prolong  the  sound. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  103 

The  town  is  built  upon  lowlands  and  clay  soil,  so  that  in 
wet  weather  the  place  may  very  properly  be  denominated  a 
•wamp.  But  the  soil  is  as  easily  affected  by  drouth  as  by 
rains,  and  the  result  is  that  at  the  present  time  the  clay  is 
baked  perfectly  solid,  and  the  ground  filled  with  fissures. 
Just  outside  of  the  town  are  the  ridges,  which  might  appro 
priately  be  named  hills,  and  upon  which  second,  third  and 
fourth  lines  of  defenses  could  have  been  erected.  The 
highest  lands  are  in  the  direction  of  Farrnington  on  the 
east,  and  College  Hill  on  the  south-west. 

Corinth  is  the  only  pleasant  country  village  wre  have  seen 
in  this  section  of  the  country.  I  was  informed  that  it  con 
tained  formerly,  2,200  inhabitants,  of  all  colors.  Tho 
houses  are  built  after  the  Southern  fashion,  with  front 
door  for  every  room  looking  toward  the  street.  This  is  an 
odd  feature  to  one  used  to  Yankee  architecture,  but  it  is  the 
universal  style  of  the  Southern  States.  The  apartments  of 
most  of  the  houses  are  large  and  airy,  and  surrounded  with 
immense  porticos,  where  the  high  toned  chivalry  enjoy 
their  siesta  in  the  most  improved  Spanish,  Southern  manner, 
except  that  they  imbibe  before  sleeping,  a  somewhat 
different  beverage  from  that  of  the  Castilians.  Instead  of 
the  wines  of  Andalusia,  they  consume  almost  unheard  of 
quantities  of  Bourbon  and  rified  whisky. 

The  yards  of  the  rich  are  decorated  with  shrubbery,  and 
what  is  far  more  in  accordance  with  good  taste,  forest  trees 
are  left  standing,  and  neatly  trimmed  —  a  custom  which  has 
been  too  sadly  neglected  in  the  North.  There  are  several 
substantial  brick  and  frame  business  houses,  all  of  which 
have  been  stripped  and  deserted.  There  was  a  fine,  large 
Baltimore  clothing  store,  but  neither  keeper  nor  clothing 
could  be  found ;  a  druggist  was  all  that  determined  to 
remain. 

Not  enough  of  the  Corinthians  remained  to  welcome  us 
or  to  give  us  any  idea  of  the  character  of  the  mass  of  the 
citizens.  A  few  poor  persons,  the  druggist  referred  to,  and 
the  mayor's  clerk,  and  two  or  three  wealthy  families,  wer« 


HISTORY    OF   TEE 

all  that  could  be  found.  The  poor  were  nearly  starved,  and 
were  disposed  to  welcome  any  change,  as  it  might  bring 
relief,  but  could  not  add  to  their  sufferings.  Their  condition 
in  any  event  could  not  be  much  worsted.  They  walked 
curiously  around,  observing  the  movements  of  the  soldiers, 
Astonished  at  the  comparatively  handsome  uniform  they 
wore,  and  gratified  that  the  fears  they  had  felt  were  not 
realized.  The  wealthy  females  looked  from  the  windows 
of  their  mansions  upon  the  Union  troops,  affecting  th« 
greatest  scorn  and  contempt  for  the  Yankees,  who  viewed 
them  in  return  rather  in  a  spirit  of  pity  than  of  revenge. 

Corinth  is  supplied  with  water  from  an  artesian  well, 
which  has  been  lately  completed,  and  is  about  GOO  feet  deep. 
It  will  afford  sufficient  water  for  the  army,  and  is  of  good 
quality  ;  but  the  distance  to  our  lines  will  create  considerable 
inconvenience.  Artesian  wells  are  usually  huge  bores,  but 
it  does  not  so  happen  in  this  instance.  The  benefit  derived 
from  it  is  substantial. 

The  rebel  Generals  determined  to  evacuate  the  place  on 
the  27th,  and  therefore  sent  away  all  their  baggage,  and 
everything  not  actually  needed  for  the  subsistence  of  the 
troops  or  for  a  battle.  The  question  of  final  evacuation  was 
left  open  as  circumstances  might  dictate ;  and  in  the  mean 
time  the  army  and  the  troops  were  to  be  cajoled  into  the 
belief  that  Corinth  was  the  last  ditch  —  the  spot  where 
General  Pillow  intended  to  die. 

All  the  citizens  of  Corinth,  and  I  believe  of  the  rebel 
States,  believed  the  place  would  be  held  at  all  hazards,  and 
the  chagrin  and  disappointment  at  its  evacuation  without  a 
blow,  were  deep  and  bitter.  I  talked  with  several,  who,  up 
to  that  hour  had  never  faltered  in  their  faith,  but  who  now 
look  upon  their  cause  as  past  the  remotest  chance  of  a 
resurrection,  and  are  adapting  themselves  to  their  new  and 
changed  circumstances.  They  say  that  if  the  South  could 
not  hold  and  defend  Corinth,  they  cannot  hold  their  ground 
at  any  other  point,  and  it  is  therefore  useless  to  prokng  a 
war  which  is  now  desolating  twelve  States. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  155 

On  the  27th,  General  Bcaurcgard  went  to  Holly  Spring*, 
giving  out  the  impression  that  it  was  to  recruit  his  health, 
but  the  real  intention  was  to  select  a  camp  for  his  army. 
Generals  Pillow,  Price  and  Ilardec  concurred  with 
Beauregard  to  evacuate  the  place,  hut  General  Bragg  and 
Van  Dorn  opposed  it,  as  a  movement  absolutely  destructive 
to  their  cause. 

General  Ilalleck  was  admired  for  his  care,  and  fortifying 
every  resting  place  about  Corinth,  but  we  cannot  commend 
his  watchfulness  in  not  ascertaining  the  fact  that  the  rebels 
were  retreating,  when  we  were  within  half  a  mile  of  their 
lines  for  forty-eight  hours.  A  reconnoisance  in  force,  at 
several  points,  to  the  distance  of  twenty-five  rods  beyond 
our  pickets,  would  have  discovered  the  whole  facts.  Gen 
eral  Halleck's  watchfulness  will  certainly  be  regarded  as  a 
military  blunder. 

HEBEL    VANDALISM. 

True  to  their  natural  sentiments,  the  rebels  could  .not 
leave  the  town  without  destroying  a  large  amount  of 
p roper ty.  The  depot  and  three  large  warehouses,  con 
taining  provisions  which  they  were  unable  to  carry  away> 
were  tired,  and  before  the  arrival  of  the  Union  army,  were 
consumed.  The  dense  cloud  of  smoke  which  was  seen  in 
the  morning  as  the  army  approached,  led  to  the  supposition 
that  the  town  had  been  burned,  but  on  our  arrival  it  was 
found  that  all  private  residences,  and  such  buildings  aa 
contained  no  army  stores,  were  left  unharmed. 

The  rebel  forces  amounted  to  80,000  effective  troops,  of 
all  grades  —  volunteers  for  the  war,  conscripts,  and  eight 
day  men.  The  latter  are  those  who  shouldered  their 
muskets  for  an  immediate  battle;  they  are' generally  pressed 
in.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  many  of  these  were  found 
dead  upon  the  field  of  battle,  who  had  the  previous  day 
been  in  our  camps,  and  who  were  regarded  by  us  as  good 
Union  men.  Some  of  them  lived  in  the  little  town  where 
our  regiment  was  stationed ;  many  of  these  were  taken 
prisoner  on  their  return  home.  The  cavalry  and  infantry 


156  HISTORY   OF   THE 

pressed  the  retreating  rebels,  and  gathered  up  several 
thousand  stragglers,  and  captured  some  of  their  camps. 
So  closely  were  they  pressed  that  our  men  found  a  breakfast 
already  cooked,  the  rebels  not  having  time  to  eat  it,  our 
men  coming  upon  them  so  suddenly ;  blankets,  muskets? 
cartridge  boxes,  and  other  munitions  of  war  were  aban 
doned  by  the  rebels,  and  lay  scattered  in  profusion  along 
the  roads. 

ANECDOTE  OF  THE  FIGHT  OF  THE  28TH. 

When  our  lines  advanced  on  the  28th,  a  battery  was 
planted  on  an  eminence  commanding  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  country,  but  completely  shrouded  from  view  by  a 
dense  thicket.  Scouts  were  sent  out  to  discover  the  exact 
position  of  the  rebels,  and  were  but  a  short  distance  in 
advance,  to  give  the  signal  as  to  direction  to  fire  if  any  were 
discovered.  One  of  the  rebel  commanders,  unaware  of  our 
presence,  called  around  him  his  men  and  commenced 
addressing  them  in  something  like  the  following  strain : 

"  SONS  OF  THE  SOUTH  :  —  We  are  here  to  defend  our 
homes,  our  wives  and  children,  against  the  horde  of  vandals 
who  have  come  here  to  possess  the  first  and  violate  the  last. 
Here  upon  this  sacred  soil  we  have  assembled  to  drive  back 
the  Northern  invaders — to  drive  them  back  into  Tennes 
see.  Will  you  follow?  If  we  cannot  hold  this  place,  w« 
can  hold  no  place  in  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Shall  we 
drive  the  invaders  back,  and  strike  to  death  the  men  who 
would  desecrate  our  homes  ?  Is  there  a  man  so  base  among 
those  who  hear  me,  as  to  retreat  from  the  contemptible  foe 
before  us?  I  will  never  blanch  before  their  fire,  nor — " 

At  this  interesting  period  the  signal  was  given,  and  six 
shells  fell  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gallant  officer  and  his  men, 
who  suddenly  forgot  their  fiery  resolves  and  fled  in  confu 
sion  to  their  breastworks. 

POWERFUL   AND  THRILLING  SERMON  ON  THE  CURSE  OF  COWARDICE. 

The  following  sermon  was  preached  at  Fort  Donelson, 
and  found  by  the  writer  at  Corinth  among  the  preciou* 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  157 

documents  laid  up  to  comfort  the  soldier  and  strengthen 
his  resolves  in  driving  hack  the  Yankee  from  their  sacred 
soil.  It  is  one  of  the  finest  efforts  of  the  ahlest  and  most 
incomprehensible  of  modern  divines.  Dr.  Baldwin  is  a 
descendant  of  the  prophet  Samuel  on  the  one  side  and 
Habakuk  on  the  other,  and  of  course  is  a  "good  egg;" 
or,  as  has  been  beautifully  said,  "  a  whole  team  and  a  yaller 
do£  under  the  wagon." 

O  O 

Of  his  early  history  we  can  only  say  that  his  name  had  a 
significant  origin.  A\rhen  he  preached  his  first  sermon  an 
old  lady  remarked  to  one  of  the  brethren  as  they  went  to 
lunch:  "  AVclI,  that  little  cuss  preached  a  screaming  ser 
mon."  Of  his  great  book  —  Armageddon  —  too  much 
cannot  be  said.  It  would  do  credit  to  a  lunatic  asylum. 
It  is  a  work  of  wonderful  weight,  being  the  heaviest  thing 
of  the  kind  extant.  It  is  said,  as  an  evidence  of  his  syste 
matic  mode  of  doing  things,  that  when  writing  the  great 
chapter  in  Armageddon  on  the  "  Goat  with  Seven  Horns," 
lie  was  in  the  habit  of  drinking  seven  horns  a  day  himself, 
on  the  sagacious  supposition  that  "  like  would  produce 
like!"  The  following  sermon  is,  however,  his  great  effort. 
It  was  commenced  on  the  memorable  Sunday  of  the  fall  of 
Fort  Donelson,  and  its  delivery  was  unluckily  cut  short  by 
the  announcement  of  that  calamitous  event.  I3ut  we  must 
no  longer  delay  the  sermon. 

The  services  were  opened  on  this  occasion  with  a  prayer 
by  a  Texan  Kanger : 

"  Oh,  Lord  !  Thou  knowest  that  this  thing  of  praying  is 
altogether  out  of  my  line,  and  as  hard  for  me  to  do  as  for 
Wigfall  to  keep  sober,  or  Jeff  Davis  be  made  pay  his  debts, 
or  Floyd  to  keep  from  stealing.  But,  Thou  knowest  we  aro 
some  on  tangle-foot  whisky,  good  at  horse-racing,  and  tip 
top  at  poker,  and  can  hold  four  aces  about  as  often  as  <  John 
Morgan'  or  «  any  other  man.3  Help  us  this  day,  for  we  are 
in  a  peck  of  trouble,  and  it  will  be  the  last  tima  I'll  ever 
trouble  you.  Amen." 


158  HISTORY   OF   THE 

THE    CURSE   OF    COWARDICE. 

TEXT  —  "Curse  ye,  Mieroz,  curse  ye  bitterly. — Beloved 
brethren  and  sisters,  you  arc  assembled  to-day  to  discharge 
the  most  important  duties  of  your  lives.  The  Yankees  in 
*  chariots  of  fire '  arc  cavorting  and  charging  like  the 'beast 
with  seven  heads  and  ten  horns'  spoken  of  by  St.  John. 
(Brother  McNairy,  make  that  bloodhound  of  yours  keep 
still,  or  I'll  expel  him  from  the  church,  even  as  Judas  was 
cast  out  of  the  synagogue.)  The  uncircumcised  sons  of  the 
Philistines  are  riding  over  the  holy  soil  of  the  South  in 
chariots  of  fire,  even  as  the  chariots  of  Elijah  and 
Aminadab,  and  my  soul  waxeth  '  wonderfully  and  fearfully 
mad.'  Oh,  brethren,  let  us  do  as  King  David,  the  sweet 
psalmist  of  Israel,  did,  when  he  arose  and  went  after  his 
sling.  (Stop,  my  brother ;  don't  be  in  a  Lurry  to  leave  ; 
I  didn't  mean  a  gin-sling,  but  the  feling  of  the  '  spirits  of 
just  men  made  perfect,'  which  will  send  a  rock  into  the 
temples  of  Abraham  Lincoln.)  Brethren,  let  us  see  if  we 
can't  perforate  into  the  meaning  of  my  text  —  ah!  '  Curs# 
ye  Meroz.'  My  text  suggests  two  points,  the  cowardice  of  a 
cuss,  and  the  cuss  of  cowardice. 

" Firstly,  there  is  always  cowardice  in  a  low,  ornry  cus.% 
and  the  cuss  is  always  full  of  cowardice  as  our  publishing 
house  is  of  piety,  which  you  know,  my  brethren,  is  an 
exclusively  religious  concern,  and  publishes  among  other 
excellent  books  my  great  work  on  prophecy,  called 
Armageddon.  Price  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents — ah  ! 

u  Secondly,  the  cuss  of  cowardice.  Who,  my  brethren  and 
sisters,  is  a  cuss  of  cowardice?  A  cuss  of  cowardice  is  one 
who  bellows  like  a  'bull  of  Bashan'  in  time  of  safety,  and 
then  runs  like  a  '  fatted  calf '  in  time  of  danger.  There  i* 
Isliani  G.  Harris,  who  issued  a  proclamation,  a  few  days  ago, 
talking  about  '  defending  the  sanctity  of  our  homes,  and 
wives  and  daughters,  and  dying  in  the  last  ditch.'  Yes,  L<* 
cavorted  mightily,  and  should,  as  he  'smelt  the  battle  afar 
otf ;'  but  to-day  he  remaineth  like  a  disconsolate  whang- 
doodle,  in  the  dark  mountains  of  Hepsidam,  roaring  for 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I,  159 

licr  first' born,  and  will  not  be  comforted,  because  they  are 
not.'  Instead  of  staying  to  fight  that  son  of  Belial,  Andy 
Johnson,  he  is  packing  up  his  duds  for  a  grand  skedaddle. 
My  brethren,  he  is  a  cuss,  and  a  '  cuss  of  cowardice.' 

'"Then  there  is  Gideon  Pillow,  who  has  undertaken  a 
contract  for  digging  that  'last  ditch,'  of  which  you  have  all 
heard  so  much.  I  am  afraid  the  '  feathers  will  fly'  when 
ever  that  case  is  opened,  and  that  Pillow  will  give  us  the 
Flip.  The  'sword  of  the  Lord'  isn't  the  sword  of  Gideon 
Pillow,  so  I  shall  not  bolster  him'  up  any  longer.  Gideon 
is  a  cuss,  my  brethren,  and  a  'cuss  of  cowardice.' 

"There  is  Wash  Burrow,  who  has  been  handling  millions 
of  dollars  and  staying  cosily  at  home,  while  '  lewd  fellows 
of  the  baser  sort'  do  the  lighting.  I  believe  this  Barrow 
belongs  to  the  herd  of  swine  spoken  of  in  the  Testament, 
of  whom  the  devil  took  possession.  "Why  don't  he  bristlo 
up  to  the  Yankees  ?  Does  he  want  to  '  save  his  bacon " 
more  than  to  save  the  South?  If  he  docs  he  ought  to  Us 
well  smoked.  He,  too,  is  a  cuss,  and  a  '  cuss  of  cowardice." 

"Then  there  is  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  Xashville. 
Vigilant  about  what,  I  should  like  to  know?  As  *  vigilant 
as  a  cat  to  steal  cream,'  I  guess,  as  the  apostle  Falstaff  saya 
in  his  sermon  to  Prince  Hal.  Why  don't  they  shoulder 
their  muskets  and  go  out  to  fight  the  Yankees,  instead  of 
running  off  poor  mechanics  who  have  no  friends  ?  My 
friends,  they  arc  all  cusses,  and  '  cusses  of  cowardice.' 

"My  brethren  and  sisters,  I'll  tell  you  who  are  not  cusses 
of  cowardice.  Myself,  the  author  of  Armageddon,  and 
.Dr.  McFerrin,  author  of  the  Confederate  Primer,  and  Dr. 
rtiimmors,  author  of  Confederate  Almanac,  and  Brother 
Houston,  who  is  getting  up  a  Confederate  Bible.  "We  ar« 
no"  'cusses  of  cowardice.'  Xo,  sir-ec  I 

"  My  brethren,  just  get  the  almanac  and  look  for  that 
Confederate  '  eclipse  of  the  sun,'  and  then  get  down  Brother 
Mac's  primer,  and  read  that  heavenly  little  story  about  tlm 
4  Smart  Dixie  Boy,'  and  then  buy  a  copy  of  my  Arma 
geddon,  for  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents,  and  you  will  fight 


160  HISTORY   OF   THE 

like  —  (enter  messenger,  wildly  exclaiming,  Tort  Donelson 
is  taken,  and  the  Yankee  gunboats  are  in  sight!')  Oh! 
Lord,  my  brethren,  oh !  Lord  !  —  let's  skedaddle  ! :) 

The  discourse  was  here  broken  off  short;  but  the  pious 
author  assures  us  that  it  will  be  published  in  full  in  his  next 
edition  of  Armageddon,  which  he  requests  us  to  say  ho 
will  still  sell  at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents. 


JACKSON,  TENNESSEE,  AND  POINTS  SOUTH. 


A  few  days  after  *  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  we  struck 
tents,  desiring  to  make  ourselves  useful — started  to  Purdy, 
and  remained  with  the  frightened  citizens  over  night, 
leaving  Company  B  with  them.  We  started  for  Bethel 
Station,  where  we  pitched  our  tents  and  expected  to  remain 
for  some  time.  We  were  highly  pleased  with  the  place,  on 
account  of  the  excellent  quality  of  the  water,  and  the 
hospitality  of  the  citizens,  who  made  us  many  friendly 
visits,  and  immediately  opened  up  a  brisk  trade  with  the 
boys,  in  butter,  fruits,  berries,  milk,  etc. 

We  built  two  large  bake  ovens,  and  hired  a  baker  to 
bake  bread  for  the  regiment ;  determined  no  longer  to 
accept  of  Uncle  Sam's  bread,  which  I  regard  as  the  great 
curse  of  our  army.  I  care  not  what  surgeons  and  others 
say  of  the  healthy  nature  of  crackers;  nothing  short  of 
divine  revelation  would  convince  me  that  they  are  not 
the  cause  of  so  much  of  sickness  and  death  in  the  army. 
We  can  fully  establish  this  fact  by  examples  both  of  indi 
viduals  and  of  regiments  who  have  bakeries  connected  with 
their  Quartermaster's  Department.  But  as  it  is  not  my 
design  now  to  discuss  the  cracker  business,  suffice  it  to  say, 
I  have  not  yet  seen  the  soldier  who  does  not  loath  them. 

A  few  days ,  after  our  stop  at  Bethel,  General  Logan's 
Division,  comprising  sixteen  Illinois  regiments,  came  to 

'11 


1(52  HISTORY   OF   THE 

dwell  with  us.  The  next  morning  after  their  arrival  the 
Seventy-Eighth,  with  parts  of  the  Illinois  Twenty-Ninth 
and  Thirtieth,  were  ordered  to  proceed  up  the  railroad 
and  open  it  for  transportation  as  far  as  Jackson,  Tennessee, 
a  distance  of  forty  miles ;  while  General  Logan  would 
take  a  Brigade,  accompanied  by  Colonel  Marsh's  Cavalry, 
in  a  different  direction,  to  intercept  cotton  burners  and 
guerrillas,  who  were  laying  waste  the  country  about 
Jackson.  We  started  in  the  cars  Saturday  morning,  leav 
ing  a  detail  of  sixty  men  behind  to  guard  the  engineers  in 
bringing  the  telegraph  after  us.  We  arrived  at  Jackson 
seven  hundred  strong,  about  three  P.  M.  We  took  the 
inhabitants  by  complete  surprise.  They  had  just  had  * 
large  meeting  of  the  citizens,  appointed  vigilance  comittccs 
to  test  more  thoroughly  suspicious  persons,  and  inspect  the 
arms  and  distribute  them  to  the  citizens;  also  to  burn  the 
bridges  below  the  city,  to  prevent  our  entrance  to  the  place. 
We  came  upon  them  before  they  had  accomplished  their 
last  purpose.  They  were  amazed  and  confounded  at  our 
appearance  upon  their  streets ;  nt  our  boldness  in  marching 
directly  to  the  court  house  and  taking  possession  of  the 
yard.  In  a  few  minutes  we  demanded  the  key?,  and 
Lieutenant  Eoberts,  of  Company  E,  bore  the  flag  of  the 
Seventy-Eighth  to  the  top  and  fastened  it  to  the  cupola. 
In  majesty  it  proudly  unfurled  it?.  ^  tars  and  stripes  to  the 
wind.  Like  a  stream  of  blazing  lire  it  was  seen  by  a1.!  the 
inhabitants  of  the  city,  and  for  some  distance  by  the  citizen* 
in  the  country.  The  ladies  were  seen  running  with  dis 
heveled  hair,  to  the  northern  part  of  the  city;  a  company 
of  cavslry  encamped  on  the  fairgrounds  fled,  leaving  their 
supper  cooked;  a  company  of  nomo  guards  in  the  city 
hastened  to  doff  their  military  clothes  for  those  of  th« 
citizens,  and  officers  of  the  sccesh  fied  immediately  to  the 
country.  The  people  looked  indignant  and  sullen.  Thf« 
colored  people  seemed  to  welcome  r.s,  and  crowded  th.« 
streets  and  public  square.  They  said  they  did  not  believe 
we  were  Yankees,  because  they  thought  Yankees  had  horna 
and  cloven  feet. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I.  168 

The  boys  stacked  their  arms  around  the  court  house,  and 
soon  were  off  buying  corn  bread,  pies  and  cakes ;  and  man j 
of  them  commenced  boldly  with  the  citizens  to  debate 
Unionism,  and  had  the  impudence  to  ask  how  they  liked 
the  stais  and  stripes.  Some  have  told  us  since  that  our 
boldness  was  all  that  saved  us  that  night.  They  thought 
we  surely  had  a  large  force  at  calling  distance. 

The  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  had  their  meeting  at 
three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  couriers  were  sent 
through  fields  and  by-ways  to  the  country  (the  main  roadi 
we  had  well  picketed  that  night,)  to  drum  up  all  the  cavalry 
and  forces  to  rout  us  and  take  us  all  prisoners  Sabbath 
night.  They  had  made  the  boast  that  to-morrow  our 
enjoyment  would  be  turned  to  sorrow.  About  four  o'clock 
Sabbath  evening  Colonel  Marsh  with  his  cavalry,  and  Gen 
eral  Logan  with  four  regiments  and  three  brass  bands  came 
inarching  into  the  city  and  saluted  the  flag  waving  over  the 
court  house.  The  people  almost  wilted  down  in  despair,  and 
gome  were  heard  to  remark,  "They  got  us  now ;  no  use  to 
oppose. " 

Unionism  here  was  entirely  suppressed.  Occasionally 
now  we  find  some  to  speak  out,  and  some  go  so  far  as  to 
discuss  the  question  of  Unionism  with  each  other.  The 
Heign  of  Terror  has  been  exercised  here  during  the  past 
year.  The  city  is  classed  the  fourth  in  the  State;  wai 
the  first  to  raise  the  secession  flag  in  the  State,  and  haa 
since  been  the  most  active  in  the  support  of  the  Southern 
army  and  the  Confederacy.  In  wealth,  it  is  without  a  par 
allel;  in  respect  to  its  population,  all  are  wealthy  planter! 
owning  large  tracts  of  land  and  many  slaves.  In  respect  to 
beauty,  I  have  seen  none  to  surpass  it.  The  city  is  buried 
in  a  dense  forest  of  shade  trees,  and  the  dwellings  are  large 
and  costly,  having  large  and  ornamented  yards  in  front. 

All  the  troops  are  now  encamped  outside  the  main  city, 
except  three  companies,  who  are  encamped  in  the  court 
house  yard  for  present  purposes,  and  act  as  the  police  of  the 
city.  One  of  these  companies  is  our  own  Company  E> 


164  HISTORY  OP  THE 

Seventy-Eighth.  We  have  searched  all  suspicious  houses, 
and  have  captured  over  one  thousand  hogsheads  of  sugar 
and  much  flour  and  corn  laid  away  for  the  rehel  army.  We 
have  captured  a  large  amount  of  small  arms;  also  took 
possession  of  the  armory  and  many  Quartermaster  stores. 
Every  day  we  are  making  accessions  to  our  captured  prop 
erty. 

This  is  the  first  place  we  have  heen  where  scrip  was 
current.  The  boys  happened  to  have  gathered  considerable 
of  it  in  various  expeditions,  saving  it  to  take  home  with 
them.  The  citizens  refused  our  paper  money ;  would  not 
touch  it.  The  boys,  therefore,  have  been  doing  good  busi 
ness  with  their  Confederate  script,  many  of  them  boarding 
at  the  hotels,  paying  fifty  cents  a  meal,  getting  a  Confed 
erate  bill  changed  and  receiving  Ohio  and  Kentucky  money 
in  change.  Some  have  gone  into  the  business  of  buying  it 
from  the  colored  population  for  the  gold  and  silver  at  a 
trifle,  and  pass  it  oil'  at  the  groceries  at  full  value.  One  of 
Company  E,  yesterday,  started  with  five  dollars,  and  came 
out  in  the  evening  with  thirteen  dollars  current  Ohio  money. 
This  is  only  one  instance.  They  all  have  now  more  money 
than  they  brought  with  them,  after  spending  freely.  But 
the  matter  is  now  changing ;  the  people  take  the  scrip  with 
reluctance,  but  take  the  greenbacks  with  readiness.  An 
order  will  be  issued  to-morrow  prohibiting  the  circulation 
of  all  Confederate  money.  The  people  do  no  not  yet  know 
it.  It  will  create  quite  a  sensation,  and  will  come  hard  upon 
many  for  a  few  days.  Gold  and  silver  are  among  the  things 
that  are  past ;  none  of  it  has  been  seen  in  the  city  for  months, 
and  is  looked  upon  as  an  article  of  curiosity. 

In  a  few  days  the  road  will  be  opened  to  Columbus,  Ken 
tucky,  when  .communications  with  the  Korth  will  be  more 
direct  and  immediate.  The  boys  are  in  the  highest  enjoy 
ment,  and  say  the  past  week  has  paid  them  for  all- their 
hardships  heretofore. 

GRAND   JUNCTION. 

After  three  or  four  woeks  reit  and  quiet  at  Jackson,  Ten- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  165 

nessee,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Grand  Junction,  to  hold 
and  repair  the  railroad,  so  that  communication  could  be 
opened  up  with  Memphis  and  the  interior  of  Mississippi. 
The  position  was  an  important  one,  being  the  junction  of 
important  railroads  leading  to  the  enemy's  main  lines  of 
communication  and  assailable  positions.  The  place  containd 
a  few  scattered  houses,  one  small  church  and  a  medium 
hotel.  The  country  around  is  not  surpassed  in  Western 
Tennessee  ,  it  is  well  cultivated  and  the  plantations  wealthy 
and  well  stocked  with  the  property  of  the  peculiar  institu 
tion.  At  Grand  Junction  were  machine  shops  of  several 
roads,  but  these  were  destroyed  when  Beauregard  evacuated 
Corinth.  Many  of  the  inhabitants,  especially  the  more 
wealthy,  had  gone  South  in  search  of  their  rights.  Here 
we  found  some  Union  men  who  had  been  subjects  of  perse 
cution  in  consequence,  and  many  who  were  so  by  profession, 
but  were  found  a  few  weeks  afterwards  among  the  enemy's 
cavalry  and  guerrillas.  We  remained  here  one  week,  when 
we  were  ordered  to  march  to  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  about 
twenty-four  miles  farther  south.  With  this  order  we  could 
not  comply,  in  consequence  of  our  transportation  not  having 
yet  reached  us  from  Jackson,  Tennessee.  We  were  then 
ordered  to  Lagrange  to  relieve  General  Hurlbut,  who,  with 
his  Division  was  ordered  to  Holly  Springs  in  our  stead.  We 
remained  at  Lagrange  one  week,  Colonel  Leggett  in  com 
mand  of  the  post,  and  Lieutenant  W.  W.  McCarty,  of  Com 
pany  E,  Provost  Marshal. 

The  town  is  one  of  considerable  celebrity  in  the  South, 
both  for  commercial  importance  and  educational  facilities. 
It  has  a  population  of  nearly  three  thousand  inhabitants, 
and  before  the  rebellion,  was  one  of  the  most  business 
and  beautiful  towns  in  Western  Tennessee.  Here  is  located 
the  Presbyterian  Synodical  College.  The  building  stands 
on  elevated  grounds,  and  present  an  imposing  appearance 
from  every  view  in  the  surrounding  country.  It  is  now 
occupied  as  a  hospital ;  the  fate  of  nearly  all  educational 
institutions  in  the  South.  It  was  used  as  such  by  the  rebels 


163  HISTORY   OP  THE 

and  when  they  evacuated  Corinth  and  this  country  many 
•ick  were  left  here  for  our  care  and  attention.  This  institu 
tion,  eminent  in  past  history  and  long  nursed  by  the  churches, 
is  sharing  alike  the  fearful  consequences  of  rebellion  and 
secession,  which  soon  dries  up  all  fountains  of  learning  ; 
which  is  but  the  type  of  what  it  would  do,  were  they  brought 
into  full  realization,  and  the  principle  permitted  to  be  intro 
duced  into  the  political  policy  and  economy  of  our  national 
existence. 

Dr.  "Waddel,  the  President  of  the  Institution,  is  the 
Secretary  of  the  Southern  General  Assembly  of  the  Pres 
byterian  Church.  He  is  a  preacher  of  more  than  ordinary 
ability,  and  who  has  attained,  both  North  and  South,  con 
siderable  eminence  for  literary  and  other  logical  ability  and 
knowledge,  but  entered  into  secession  with  all  the  earnest 
ness  of  the  demagogue.  He  had  a  large  plantation  and  a 
great  number  of  slaves  which  gave  to  his  principle,  and 
believing  in  the  divinity  of  the  institution  of  negro  slavery? 
led  him  to  espouse  the  cause  of  secession  and  sacrifice  all 
present  facilities  and  blessings  in  the  interest  ofv  the  slave 
holders'  Confederacy;  and  to  put  forth  every  effort  in  its 
behalf.  His  sermons  were  turned  into  political  harangues, 
inciting  the  people  to  rebellion,  and  cultivating  a  spirit  of 
malignant  hatred  against  the  people  of  the  North.  His 
prayer-meetings  were  turned  into  war-meetings,  stirring  up 
the  people  to  give  their  husbands  and  sons  to  be  sacrifices 
upon  the  demon's  altar  of  rebellon.  Through  his  influence 
all  the  young  men  left  the  college  and  volunteered.  All  the 
young  men  of  the  town  were  driven  from  their  homes  by 
the  pressure  of  public  opinion  to  enter  the  ranks  of  the 
Southern  army. 

When  our  forces  took  possession  of  Western  Tennessee, 
he  fled  with  big  family  to  Jackson,  Mississippi ;  and  was 
driven  from  this  place  of  refuge  farther  East,  wrhen  he 
entered  the  army  as  a  Chaplain,  and  his  family  reduced  from 
great  opulence  to  destitution  in  search  of  their  rights  and 
tlie  Confederacy.  How  true  the  declaration  of  the  prophet, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   L  167 

"  he  feedeth  on  ashes ;  a  deceived  heart  hath  turned  him 
aside,  that  he  cannot  deliver  his  soul,  nor  say  is  there  a  lie 
in  his  right  hand."  Truly  such  men  have  left  off  preaehing 
Christ,  and  teach  instead  the  commandments  of  men. 

When  our  troops  took  possession  of  the  place,,  Doctor 
Wacldell  was  so  indignant  he  refused  to  occupy  his  pulpit. 
Lieutenant  McCarty,  Provost  Marshal,  informed  him  by 
order  that  the  church  n\ust  he  opened,  and  he  must  either 
preach  himself,  or  he  would  have  his  pulpit  filled.  The 
.Doctor  then  consented  to  preach,  and  the  soldiers  of  the 
Union  army  crowded  his  house  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and 
the  Doctor  was  compelled  to  preach  an  excellent  gospel 
sermon,  The  same  kind  of  spiritual  food  he  had  been 
administering  to  the  people  of  the  South  would  not  be  very 
palatable  to  the  Union  soldier. 

Doctor  Grey,  who  was  professor  in  the  college,  was  a  very 
different  man — tall,  straight  and  head  as  white  as  snow, 
which  contributed  much  to  his  reverent  appearance.  He 
seemed  one  of  the  most  heavenly-minded,  devoted  and 
§pi ritual  men  I  ever  met.  It  was  refreshing  to  the  Christian 
heart  to  hear  him  talk  and  preach.  His  mind  seemed  so 
imbued  with  heavenly  things  that  he  talked  little  about 
either  the  Union  or  the  Confederacy.  He  had  no  slaves, 
consequently  had  little  interest  at  stake.  He  had  an  only 
uoii,  who  was  a  young  man  of  very  high  attainments  and 
promised  great  usefulness,  but  very  much  to  the  pain  and 
grief  of  the  father  he  was  induced  to  leave  his  home  and 
break  away  from  his  parent,  in  whom  his  comfort  and  joy 
were  centered,  to  enter  the  rebel  army,  when  he  was  taken 
prisoner  by  our  forces  and  sent  North  ;  his  health  was  much 
impaired,  so  that  he  died  in  hospital.  The  sorrow-stricken 
father  could  scarcely  bear  up  under  the  terrible  shock  and 
affliction. 

Our  stay  at  Lagrange  was  of  short  duration,  but  was 
attended  with  most  healthful  effect  for  the  Union  cause. 
Colonel  Leggett  had  endeared  himself  to  many  of  the 
people  by  his  kind  and  gentlemanly  trreatment  of  th« 


168  HISTORY   OF   THE 

i 

citizens.     Business   began  to  grow   active,   and  ^"orthern 
sullers  soon  filled  the  pla-ce  with  a  large  stock  of  goods. 

Here  we  saw  for  the  first  time  the  cruel  treatment  spoken 
of  bj  Abolition  papers  in  the  ^N"orth,  which  we  supposed 
were  much  exaggerated,  but  we  now  see  it  so  fully 
realized  that  we  conclude  the  one-half  has  never  been  told. 
It  makes  humanity  startle,  and  man  ashamed  to  claim 
kindred  with  the  white  race.  I  presume  slavery  is  no 
worse  here  than  elsewhere,  the  treatment  of  the  slave  no 
less  merciful  and  more  severe  than  in  other  places,  but  we 
happened  to  rbe  so  situated  that  we  could  see  it  in  all  its 
internal  workings.  I  will  not  stir  the  heart  of  the  reader 
by  a  recital  of  the  dark  and  sickening  treatment  that  fell 
under  our  observation. 

When  General  Hurlbut  had  completed  his  mission  to 
Holly,  Springs,  he  returned  with  his  Division  to  Lagrange ; 
we  were  ordered  again  to  Grand  Junction,  where  we 
remained  between  three  and  four  weeks.  In  the  meantime 
General  Hurlbut  marched  his  Division  to  Memphis.  Our 
Brigade, :  composed  o±  the  Seventy-Eighth,  Twentieth  and 
Sixty-Eighth  Ohio,  remained  alone  on  this  outpost,  several 
miles  in  front  of  our  main  lines.  The  enemy  was  all 
around  us,  but  still  we  protected  our  communications,  and 
had  from  forty  to  fifty  wagons  out  daily  gathering  forage 
and  cotton;  the  cars  were  busy  night  and  day  carrying 
away  forage,  cotton  and  Government  stores.  Our  wagon 
trains,  scouting  and  forage  parties  were  out  daily,  and  a 
lively  trade  was  carried  on  with  the  people  for  mile* 
around.  The  rebel  army  and  guerillas  began  to  thicken 
around  us ;  General  Leggett,  in  command  of  the  Brigade? 
exercised  every  precaution  and  energy  to  strengthen  his 
position  and  guard  against  an  attack.  He  asked  for  one 
more  battery,  and  Brigade,  but  not  being  granted,  was 
ordered  by  General  Grant  to  evacuate  the  post  and  march 
to  'Bolivar.  General  Leggett  remonstrated,  and  urged  the 
propriety  of  reinforcements,  and  holding  the  position.  The 
rebels  were  still  gathering  and  concentrating  nearer  in  such 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.   Y.    Y.    I. 

numbers  as  to  make  sure  tile  capture  of  the  Brigade,  but 
the  General,  anticipating  their  designs,  and  ascertaining 
their  position  and  numbers,  gave  the  order  to  remove  to 
Bolivar,  Tennessee,  twenty-two  miles  north  of  Grand 
Junction.  Scarcely  had  our  rear  left  the  place  till  the  rebel 
cavalry  had  possession  of  it,  and  captured  a  private  of 
Company  I,  who  having  been  on  picket,  stopped  to  drink  a 
cup  of  coffee  before  he  would  march.  Many  citizens  who 
had  professed  loyalty  and  great  attachment  to  the  national 
flag,  and  aversion  to  the  rebel  cause,  were  loud  in  their 
exclamations  to  "  shoot  the  damned  Yankees.''  About  one 
hundred  bales  of  cotton  were  left  at  the  depot,  which  tbe 
rebel  cavalry,  like  wolves,  cut  to  pieces  and  applied  the 
torch.  They  exulted  over  its  burning  as  much  as  they  would 
at  the  capture  of  the  Brigade.  After  being  posted  at 
Bolivar,  where  they  were  encamped,  sixteen  regiments  of 
Illinois  infantry  and  several  batteries  of  artillery,  General 
Leggett  with  his  Brigade,  resumed  his  scouting  and  making 
reconnoisances  through  the  country,  teasing  and  tormenting 
the  enemy.  Wherever  an  encampment  was  heard  of  for 
miles  around,  the  General  was  sure  to  be  upon  them,  and  in 
no  case  did  they  stand  and  make  a  fight.  So  much  did 
General  Leggett  trouble  them  that  Generals  Jackson  and 
Van  Dorn  offered  a  heavy  reward  for  the  person  of  General 
Legget  and  any  of  his  officers. 

Nothing  of  a  startling  character  occurred  till  the  morn 
ing  of  August  30th.  The  time  was  spent  principally  in 
foraging,  of  which  the  country  furnished  a  great  abundance. 
Peaches,  corn  and  sweet  potatoes  were  brought  in  in  great 
quantities,  which  contributed  greatly  to  the  health  <  f  the 
troops.  There  was  but  little  sickness  and  but  few  death F, 
during  the  months  the  troops  remained  at  this  place  waiting 
the  pleasure  of  the  Government  to  make  a  forward  move 
ment. 

The  Division  captured  while  here  nearly  one  thousand 
mules  and  horses  from  rebels  in  the  vicinity.  The  town  is 
a  county  geat  and  beautiful  in  location  and  appearance, 


170  HISTORY   OF  THE 

containing  a  court-house,  four  churches,  and  some  fine 
residences.  The  wealthiest  citizen  of  the  place  is  Major 
McNeal,  who  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  obtained  a 
tafe-guard  for  his  property,  which  was  the  case  of  nearly 
all  the  citizens  of  the  place.  Major  McNeal,  in  a  few  days 
after  the  attack  of  the  rebels  upon  Bolivar,  on  the  30th  of 
August,  was  sent  North  a  prisoner.  On  the  28th  he 
obtained  a  permit  to  pass  our  pickets  and  go  into  the 
country  to  look  after  the  interest  of  his  plantations  and 
slaves,  of  which  he  had  over  three  hundred,  and  over  one 
thousand  acres  of  land.  In  the  fight  on  the  29th  he  was 
seen  by  those  of  our  troops  who  had  been  taken  prisoners 
equipped  with  sword  and  carbine,  among  the  rebel  cavalry, 
fighting  against  the  Government  to  which  he  had  sworn 
allegiance,  and  against  the  troops  who  were  protecting  his 
home.  So  certain  was  he  that  the  rebels  would  gain  posses 
sion  of  the  place,  that  he  had  ordered  his  wife  to  have 
dinner  ready  for  the  officers  of  the  rebel  army.  He  is  a 
good  example  of  how  much  confidence  can  be  placed  in  a 
wealthy  rebel's  loyalty  and  oath  to  the  Government.  After 
this  his  property  was  no  longer  respected.  The  timber  and 
fencing,  which  previous  to  this  had  not  been  disturbed,  were 
now  all  destroyed,  being  used  for  fire-wood  by  our  troops. 

The  Methodist  and  Episcopal  clergymen  were  also  sent 
North  as  prisoners ;  they  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegi 
ance.  It  was  thought  that  a  sojourn  in  the  North,  which 
they  had  preached  against  with  so  much  malignancy,  would 
be  good  for  them.  One  of  our  prisons  would  be  a  suitable 
place  to  correct  their  insanity,  which  had  turned  all 
their  ideas  of  theology  into  rebellion.  It  is  hoped  they 
will  return  wiser  and  better  men,  and  obtain  some  new 
stock  ideas  for  sermons.  The  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  took  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  continued  loyal  to 
the  end.  He  was  therefore  undisturbed  in  his  administra 
tions,  and  the  soldiers  gave  him  a  well  filled  sanctuary 
every  Sabbath. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIKEXT   0.    T.   V.    I.  171 

On  th«  morning  of  the  30th  the  peace  and  quiet  of  our 
camps  were  disturbed  by  the  appearance  of  the  enemy,  who 
had  been  concentrating  at  Grand  Junction  preparatory  to 
an  attack  upon  the  troops  at  Bolivar.  The  rebel  force  was 
commanded  by  Generals  Price,  Van  Dorn  and  Armstrong- 
Some  colored  men,  who  have  in  all  cases  proved  loyal,  and 
friends  to  the  Union  army,  came  into  camp,  informing  us 
that  the  rebels  were  in  force  and  within  live  miles  of 
Bolivar.  General  Leggett,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  truth  of 
the  matter,  took  the  mule  cavalry,  which  he  had  selected 
from  the  Seventy-Eighth  and  Twentieth  Ohio,  fifty  in 
number,  and  had  used  them  for  scouting  purposes  ;  lie  also 
took  companies  E  and  C,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth,  and  II  and 
G,  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  and  started  upon  a  rcconnoisancc. 
lie  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  beyond  our  picket  lines 
till  he  mot  the  enemy's  advance.  The  mounted  infantry 
dismounted  and  opened  the  fight;  the  rebels  retreated 
slowly  to  their  main  force,  our  men  vigorously  following. 
Some  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  were  killed,  and  several 
wounded  of  the  Seventy-Eighth,  Stopher,  of  Company  IF, 
severely.  The  two  companies  of  the  Seventy-Eighth 
deployed  as  skirmishers  on  the  right  of  the  road,  the 
Twentieth  on  the  left,  and  two  companies  of  cavalry  with 
the  mounted. infantry  upon  the  road,  but  the  rnule  cavalry, 
or  mounted  infantry,  were  afterwards  sent  to  guard  the 
Hanks,  and  picket  the  road  leading  into  the  main  thorough 
fare  to  Bolivar.  Here  some  of  them  were  pursued  by  a 
large  body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  and  came  nearly  being 
captured. 

A  messenger  was  dispatched  to  Bolivar  for  reinforce 
ments  ;  the.  Seventy-Eighth  and  Twentieth  Ohio  left  with 
all  possible  dispatch,  and  hurried  on  the  double-quick,  but 
did  not  reach  our  advance  in  proper  time  for  effective  work. 
When  the  rebel  skirmishers  fell  back  to  the  main  force,  we 
had  nothing  but  a  thin  skirmish  line  to  oppose  about  four 
thousand  men ;  they  soon  repulsed  our  cavalry,  and  a  heavj 
column  charged  upon  E  and  C,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth,  but 


172  HISTORY  "OF   TIIK 

the  heavy  vollies  from  the  Enfields  checked  the  advance, 
and  twenty  were  unhorsed  the  first  volley.  A  heavy  fence 
intervened,  and  in  their  attempt  to  cross  it  repeatedly,  from 
eight  to  twenty  vollies  were  poured  into  them,  which 
caused  them  to  abandon  the  effort  and  retreat,  hut  they 
moved  round  upon  the  flank  of  the  left,  and  charged,  upon- 
the  two  companies  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  who  were 
posted  in  an  open  field,  and  surrounded  them,  taking 
nearly  all  prisoners.  The  two  companies  of  the  Seventy- 
Eighth  Ohio  were  nearly  surrounded,  but  by  the  dexterity 
of  Colonel  Wiles,  then  Captain  of  Company  C,  were  saved 
by  wading  a  swamp  and  passing  through  cornfields,  piloted 
by  one  of  the  faithful  colored  men  who  was  acquainted 
with  all  the  ravines  and  places  of  retreat  between  that  and 
Bolivar. 

Toward  evening  companies  E  ar.d  C,  supposed  by  all  to 
be  taken  prisoners,  returned  to  camp  and  were  received 
with  many  cheers ;  only  one  was  missing,  and  he  returned 
next  morning.  All  that  night  he  lay  concealed,  the  rebels 
passing  near  and  around  him  frequently;  he  could  hear 
their  conversation,  being  not  more  than  one  rod  distant 
from  them;  next  morning  the  rebels  had  retreated,  and 
nothing  more  was  heard  of  thorn. 

The  following  is  the  official  report,  which  give  the  partic 
ulars  of  the  affair  in  detail : 

OFFICIAL    REPORT   OF    COLONEL    M.    D.    LEGGETT    OF    THE    ENGAGE 
MENT  NEAR  BOLIVAR,  AUGUST  oOTII,  1862. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  BRIGADE,  \ 
BOLIVAR,  TENN.,  September  1,  1862.     / 

COLONEL  M.  M.  CROCKER,  Commanding  Post : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  about  7  o'clock,  A.  M.,  of 
August  30th,  I  received  from  you  orders  to  take  a  portion 
of  my  command,  one  section  of  the  ^inth  Indiana  Battery, 
and  two  companies  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  and 
drive  back  a  force  of  rebel  cavalry,  reported  to  be  about 
four  hundred  strong,  upon  the  Grand  Junction  Road  and 
near  our  lines. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.   V.    V.   I.  173 

Colonel  Force,  of  tlic  Twentieth  Ohio,  having  received 
information  that  .a  small  rebel  force  was  menacing  our 
pickets,  very  properly  took  the  responsibility  in  my  absence 
of  sanding  out  two  companies,  under  Major  Fry  of  his 
command,  to  guard  the  lines  and  feel  of  the  enemy.  On 
arriving  at  my  headquarters  I  immediately  sent  forty-five 
of  my  mounted  infantry  to  support  the  two  companies  sent 
out  by  Colonel  Force,  and  followed  as  rapidly  as  possible 
with  the  balance  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  and  three  compa 
nies  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  leaving  orders  for  the 
remainder  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  to  be  ready  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice.  The  cavalry  and  artillery  had  orders 
to  meet  m3  at  the  picket  post  on  the  Grand  Junction  road, 
but  on  arriving  at  that  point  I  found  that  neither  had  got 
there.  I  left  the  infantry  at  that  point  under  command  of 
Colonel  Force,  to  escort  the  artillery,  when  it  should  arrive. 
"With  my  staff  I  pressed  rapidly  on  to  the  front,  to  prevent 
if  possible  an  engagement  until  my  main  force  could 
come  up. 

When  I  reached  the  advance  I  found  the  two  companies 
of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  and  the  mounted  infantry  deployed 
iu  a  piece  of  woodland  on  the  Yan  Buren  road/  about  five 
and  a-half  miles  from  Bolivar,  and  briskly  skirmishing 
^yitIl  the  enemy.  I  immediately  discovered  that  we  had 
been  deceived  as  to  the  number  of  the  rebels,  and  sent  back 
for  the  balance  of  my  command  to  come  forward  as  rapidly 
MS  possible.  Shortly  afterward  the  two  companies  of  the 
Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  under  Major  S.  D.  Peterbaugh, 
numbering  in  all  forty  men,  came  up. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  being  such  that  cavalry  could 
not, 'be  used,  some  twelve  or  fourteen  of  those  who  had 
carbines,  dismounted  and  formed  with  the  infantry.  After 
driving  the  enemy  steadily  but  slowly  for  three-fourths  of  a 
mile,  I  gained  a  position  where  I  had  a  distinct  view  of  the 
foe,  and  found  that  I  was  contending  with  a  force  of  over 
six  thousand,  instead  of  three  or  four  hundred.  I  then 
notified  you  of  the  fact,  and  asked  for  reinforcements, 


174  HISTORY   OF   TUB 

which  were  promptly  supplied  —  but  the  distance  from 
camp  being  over  six  miles,  it  necessarily  took  several  hour* 
to  get  infantry  reinforcements  upon  the  ground.  At  this 
time  I  would  have  withdrawn  my  little  force  from  the  con 
test,  having  less  than  one  man  to  twenty  of  the  enemy,  but 
the  nature  of  the  ground  over  which  1  would  have  been 
obliged  to  retreat  was  such  that  my  force  must  have  been 
annihilated,  had  I  attempted  to  escape  from  such  over 
whelming  numbers.  I  had  not  men  enough  to  retreat,  and 
consequently  had  no  choice  left  but  to  fight  until  support 
could  reach  me.  After  we  had  been  engaged  about  two 
hours,  six  companies  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  under  Colonel 
Force,  came  up,  also  two  pieces  of  artillery  under  Lieuten 
ant  "W.Hight,  of  the  Ninth  Indiana  Battery.  Two  of  these 
companies  were  immediately  deployed  to  relieve  the  cavalry 
and  mounted  infantry,  that  they  might  be  held  in  readiness 
to  meet  any  flank  movement  of  the  enemy.  There  being 
no  adequate  support  for  the  artillery,  I  dared  not  bring  it 
into  action,  but  sent  it  about  a  mile  to  the  rear,  to  take  a 
position  at  the  junction  of  the  Van  Buren  and  Middleburg1 
road,  and  await  reinforcements.  About  noon  I  discovered 
that  the  enemy  were  making  a  determined  effort  to  flank  us 
upon  the  right,  and  get  to  our  rear  upon  the  Middleburg 
road.  Leaving  Colonel  Force  in  command  on  the  Van 
Buren  road,  I  took  the  two  companies  of  the  Eleventh 
Illinois  Cavalry  and  my  mounted  infantry  and  passed  over 
the  Middleburg  road,  where  we  found  the  enemy  advancing 
in  large  numbers.  The  infantry  immediately  dismounted 
and  engaged  the  enemy  with  great  vigor  and  determination, 
and  after  a  desperate  struggle  of  over  an  hour,  drove  them 
back.  Just  at  the  close  of  the  struggle,  Captain  Chandler, 
of  the  Seventy -Eighth  Ohio,  came  upon  the  ground  with 
the  remaining  two  companies  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  and 
two  companies  of  the  Seventy -Eighth  Ohio.  These  four 
companies  were  at  once  deployed  upon  the  right  and 
left  of  the  Middleburg  road,  and  engaged  the  enemy'i 
skirmishers. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   L  175 

The  firing  having  ceased  on  the  Van  Buren  road,  I  serife 
orders  for  Colonel  Force  to  leave  a  sufficient  guard  to  pro 
tect  our  left  from  a  surprise,  and  bring  the  balance  of  hii 
command  to  the  Middleburg  road,  where  it  was  evident 
that  the  enemy  were  organizing  for  the  purpose  of  making 
a  determined  effort  to  break  our  lines,  to  reach  our  rear. 

The  infantry  reinforcements  had  not  arrived.  The 
balance  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  was  reported  close  by, 
but  not  near  enough  to  support  the  artillery  ;  hence  it  could 
not  be  used.  At  this  moment  Colonel  Harvey  Hogg,  of  the 
Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  came  up  with  orders  from  you  to 
report  to  me  upon  the  field,  with  four  companies  of  his  com 
mand.  I  immediately  assigned  him  a  position  on  the  right 
of  the  road ;  but  discovering  that  the  enemy  would  probably 
make  a  cavalry  charge  upon  us  before  Colonel  Force  could 
reach  me  from  the  Van  Buren  road,  I  asked  Colonel  Hogg 
if  he  could  hoi  1  a  position  on  the  left  of  the  roacl,  and  a 
little  to  the  front  of  where  he  then  was,  against  a  charge 
from  the  rebel  cavalry.  He  promptly  said  he  could,  and 
besought  me  to  give  him  the  position,  which  was  done. 

He  had  not  completed  his  chmige  of  place  before  the 
enemy  charged  down  the  line  of  the  road  in  vast  numbers, 
but  meeting  the  deadly  fire  of  the  four  infantry  companies 
under  command  of  Captain  Chandler,  they  were  compelled 
to  retreat,  leaving  many  of  their  horses  and  men  strewn 
upon  the  ground.  They  twice  repeated  their  attempt  to 
get  possession  of  the  road,  and  were  both  times  repulsed  by 
the  companies  under  Captain  Chandler.  They  then  threw 
the  fences  and  entered  the  field  upon  our  left,  and  opened 
fire  upon  Colonel  Hogg's  cavalry  and  the  two  companies 
of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  attached  to  Captain.  Chandlers 
command.  The  infantry  and  cavalry  returned  the  lire 
briskly,  and  with  terrible  effect.  I  then  discovered  that  ;v 
full  regiment  of  cavalry  was  forming  in  the  rear  of  those 
firing  upon  us,  evidently  with  the  determination  of 
charging  upon  our  cavalry,  and  that  portion  of  the 
infantry  on  the  left  of  the  road.  I  said  to  Colonel  Hogg,  if 


176  HISTORY   OF   TIIE 

lie  had  any  doubt  about  holding  his  position,  he  had  better 
jail  back  and  not  receive  their  charge.  He  promptly  replied : 
"  Colonel  Leggett,  for  God's-  sake  don't  order  me  back !  " 
I  replied  :  "  Meet  them  with  a  charge,  Colonel,  and  may 
Heaven  bless  you."  He  immediately  ordered  his  men  to 
draw  their  sabres,  and  after  giving  the  order  "  forward,"  he 
exclaimed:  "Give  them  cold  steel,  boys!"  and  darting 
ahead  of  his  men,  he  fell  pierced  with  nine  balls.  The  next 
instant  the  two  -maddened  lines  came  together  with  a  clash 
of  arms  sublimely  terrible.  The  enemy  wavered  and  gave 
partially  away,  but  Colonel  Hogg  having  fallen  in  full  view 
of  his  men,  and  no  other  officer  for  the  moment  assuming 
command,  our  cavalry  became  partially  disorganized  and 
fell  back  a  short  distance,  when  Captain  M.  H.  Musser,  of 
Company  F,  Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  took  command  and 
soon  put  them  in  shape  for  fighting  again. 

The  struggle  between  the  rebel  cavalry  and  Companies 
G  and  K,  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio  Infantry,  who  were 
deployed  on  the  left  of  the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry,  was, 
if  possible,  still  more  determined  and  angry. 

Our  men  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict  with  the 
enemy,  and  in  fighting  fifty  times  their  own  number,  they 
displayed  a  determined,  persistent  courage  seldom  exhibited 
upon  the  battle-field. 

Seven  companies  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  under 
Major  I).  F.  Carnahan,  and  Colonel  Force's  command  from 
the  Van  Buren  road,  corning  up  at  this  time,  they  formed 
in  line  to  support  the  artillery.  I  ordered  a  slow  retreat 
of  the  advanced  line  and  brought  the  enemy  within  range, 
when  Lieutenant  Hight,  of  the  Ninth  Indiana  Battery, 
opened  upon  them  with  shot  and  shell,  and  caused  them  to 
break  and  disperse  in  great  disorder. 

Thus  ended  a  contest  of  seven  and  a-half  hours,  in  which 
less  than  nine  hundred  of  our  brave  soldiers  met,  and  drove 
from  the  field,  over  six  thousand  well  officered  and  well 
armed  rebels. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    L  177 

To  make  mention  of  all  who  distinguished  themselves  for 
courage  and  gallantry  on  the  battle-field,  would  require  the 
naming  of  every  officer  and  man  engaged.  Every  one 
did  his  full  duty,  more  than  could  be  reasonably  asked. 
Xot  a  man  faced  to  the  rear  until  lie  was  ordered  or  carried 
back.  Several  fought  after  they  were  wounded,  until  the 
loss  of  blood  rendered  them  unable  to  stand. 

It  would  be  unjust,  however,  not  to  mention  Colonel  M. 
F.  Force,  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  whose  coolness  and  cour 
age  inspired  all  who  saw  him.  Major  Fry,  of  the  Twen 
tieth  Ohio,  who  commanded  the  advance  when  the  attack 
was  first  made  in  the  morning,  and  was  in  the  thickest  of 
the  fight  all  day.  Lieutenant  Ayres,  of  the  Twentieth 
Ohio,  and  Lieutenant  Munson,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio, 
who  together  commanded  the  mounted  infantry,  and  with 
out  whose  efforts  we  must  have  lost  the  day.  Lieutenant 
Hills,  Twentieth  Ohio,  displayed  great  energy  and  bravery 
in  snatching  our  dead  and  wounded  from  the  very  hands 
of  the  enemy.  •  Captain  Kaga  and  Lieutenant  Meliek,  of 
the  Twentieth  Ohio,  for  the  adroit  management  of  their 
companies  and  their  indomitable  courage.  Captain 
Chandler,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  whose  coolness 
n ml  bravery  in  maneuvering  the  four  companies  under 
his  command  were  observable  by  all  who  saw  him. 
Captain  G.  F.  THles,  Lieutenant  W.  "W.  McCarty,  and 
Second  Lieutenants  Koberts  and  Scales,  all  of  the  Seventy- 
Eight!  i  Ohio,  are  deserving  of  the  highest  praise  for  their 
personal  valor,  and  tor  their  skill  in  extricating  their  compa 
nies  when  entirely  surrounded  by  thn  enemy.  Major  S.  D. 
reterbaugh  and  Captain  Otto  Funke,  of  the  Eleventh 
Illinois  Cavalry,  were  in  the  light  nearly  all  of  the  time, 
and  exhibited  great  courage  and  gallantry.  The  Second 
Illinois  Cavalry  were  on  the  field  so  short  a  time,  I  can 
only  particularize  their  commander,  the  lamented  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Hogg.  A  braver,  truer  man,  never  lifted 
his  arm  in  defense  of  his  country.  lie  was  brave  to  a  fault, 

12 


178  HISTORY  OF   THE 

and   fell   while   leading   one   of  tlie  most  gallant  cavalry 
charges  of  the  present  war. 

It  is  proper  that  I  should  make  special  mention  of  Adju 
tant  E.  !N".  Owen,  Twentieth  Ohio,  and  Adjutant  II.  8. 
Abbott,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  who  acted  as  my 
Aids-de-Camp  during  the  day,  and  regardless  of  personal 
danger,  frequently  went  through  showers  of  bullets  in 
executing  their  orders. 

I  may  also  say  that  the  mounted  infantry,  or  "  mule 
cavalry,"  proved  an  entire  success.  They  prevented  the 
enemy  from  flanking  us  at  least  twice  during  the  battle. 
They  move  with  the  celerity  of  cavalry,  yet  fight  as  infantry. 

( )ur  loss  was  five  killed,  eighteen  wounded,  and  sixty  - 
four  missing.  The  enemy's  loss  was  far  greater,  but  as 
they  were  seen  to  pick  up  arid  carry  to  the  rear  their  killed 
and  wounded  as  fast  as  they  fell,  their  loss  is  not  known  to 
us.  It  is  reported  over  two  hundred. 

I  enclose  the  icports  of  officers  commanding  regiments, 
and  detachments  in  the  battle. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

M.  I).  LEGGETT, 
Colonel  Seventy-Eighth  0.  V.  I.,  commanding  1st  Brigade. 

Previous  to  this  time  General  Armstrong,  with  a  cavalry 
force,  had  taken  possession  of  the  railroad  between  Bolivar 
and  Jackson,  and  tore  up  much  of  the  track,  which  cut 
us  off  from  communication  with  the  Is'orth.  Robert 
Hanson,  our  mail  carrier  and  postmaster,  traveled  on  foot 
to  Jackson,  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  with  the  mail  and 
messages  to  headquarters.  He  was  compelled  to  travel 
through  swamps,  and  conceal  himself  in  corn  fields,  to 
escape  and  to  avoid  the  enemy.  He  traveled  the  whole 
distance  i;i  the  night,  and  returned  with  orders  and  mail 
the  next  day.  The  enemy  was  driven  away  severely  pun 
ished,  and  the  railroad  was  in  a  few  days  repaired. 

General  Price  began  to  turn  his  attention  toward  Corinth, 
after  his  failure  to  make  a  successful  attack  upon  Bolivar. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  179 

Our  Division,  under  General  Boss,  was  ordered  to  report 
at  Corinth,  to  reinforce  the  garrison  at  that  place.  General 
Price  had  concentrated  his  army  at  luka,  twenty-eight 
miles  cast  of  Corinth.  We  arrived  at  Corinth  at  mid 
night,  and  next  morning  encamped  ahout  three  miles  east 
of  the  town.  We  pitched  tents  and  worked  hard  all  day 
to  put  camp  in  order,  and  to  await  General  Price's  arrival. 
By  sun-down  we  had  got  all  things  in  good  order,  and  all  felt 
happy  in  the  prospect  of  a  comfortable  night's  rest  and 
.sleep,  which  the  men  much  needed,  having  enjoyed  neither 
ibr  three  nights;  but  in  the  midst  of  our  camp  amusements 
and  heightened  enjoyments,  an  order  was  received 
requiring  us  to  report  at  the  railroad  in  one  hour,  ami 
embark  upon  the  cars  and  proceed  to  Burnsville,  and  hold 
the  place  at  all  hazards  until  reinforcements  would  arrive. 
The  train  that  evening,  near  that  place,  had  been,  captured 
and  burned  by  the  enemy.  We  were  soon  off,  and  arrived 
at  the  place,  where  we  rested  till  morning,  sleeping  sweetly 
upon  the  earth  without  shelter,  under  a  heavy,  continuous 
rain,  which  abated  little  till  the  evening  of  the  next  day. 

That  day  we  moved  forward  to  the  next  station,  where 
our  army  was  concentrating  to  meet  General  Price,  or 
attack  him  and  bring  him  to  a  fight.  General  Kosecrans 
with  his  Division  in  the  meantime  had  gone  round  upon 
the  right  flank  to  cut  off  Price's  retreat,  and  make  an 
attack  upon  his  rear,  while  we  would  attack  him  in  front. 
The  day  was  very  disagreeable,  so  that  little  could  be  done 
by  way  of  a  forward  movement.  Colonel  Force,  with  the 
Twentieth  Ohio,  made  a  rcconnoisance  and  drove  the 
pickets  of  the  enemy  within  three  miles  of  luka. 

That  night  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  were  ordered  out  on 
picket,  which  made  the  fifth  night  that  the  regiment  had 
been  on  duty,  and  enjoying  but  little  sleep  and  rest.  The 
next  morning  was  clear  and  pleasant.  The  rain  had  sub 
sided,  and  all  things  were  put  in.  readiness  for  an  imme 
diate  movement  upon  the  enemy. 


180  HISTOKY    OF   THE 

The  Brigade  commanded  by  General  Leggett  moved  in 
the  advance.  We  advanced  but  two  miles  till  we  encoun 
tered  the  enemy's  pickets  and  out-posts,  eight  miles  this 
side  of  luka.  About  five  o'clock  in  the  evening  we 
advanced  to  within  a  short  distance  of  the  town,  capturing 
their  inner  posts  and  a  small  encampment.  Here  an  exten 
sive  swamp  intervened,  through  which  there  was  but  one 
road  that  troops  could  pass.  This  was  strongly  protected 
by  infantry  and  artillery,  and  to  attempt  crossing  that 
night,  and  bring  on  a  general  engagement,  was  impracti 
cable.  Defenses  were  thrown  up,  and  our  men  rested  on 
their  arms  during  the  night,  waiting  the  arrival  of  the 
remainder  of  the  troops  and  artillery,  which  kept  pouring 
in  nearly  all  night. 

2s"ext  morning,  after  a  cup  of  coffee  and  a  few  wormy 
crackers,  the  troops,  under  command  of  General  Ord,  our 
Brigade  in  front,  advanced.  Our  skirmishers  entered  the 
swamp  and  steadily  moved  across,  but  encountered  no 
enemy.  They  had  left  a  few  hours  before  day. 

The  troops  crossed  and  pushed  on  by  a  quick  march  to 
the  town,  but  to  our  astonishment  the  wary  Price  had 
escaped  with  his  whole  army,  having  cut  through.  General 
Eosecrans'  Division  the  evening  previous.  In  this  effort 
very  severe  fighting  occurred.  Kosecrans'  force  suffered 
very  severely,  being  overpowered  by  five  times  his  number ; 
but  gallantly  did  they  sustain  themselves  against  the  attack 
of  the  rebels,  upon  whom  they  inflicted  great  loss.  The 
wounded  were  being  brought  in  to  luka  when  we  reached 
the  place. 

Here  we  rested  till  noon  in  the  deserted  camps  of  the 
enemy.  The  situation  of  the  town  is  beautiful,  and  the 
place  was  before  the  war  one  of  wealth  and  comfort.  Here 
the  wealthy  resorted  during  months  of  vacation  for  pleasure. 
It  is  celebrated  for  its  line  springs  of  water,  of  which  there 
were  several  varieties,  cool  and  pleasant,  warm  and  sulpher- 
ous.  The  town  contained  many  large  and  beautiful  resi 
dences,  but  now  presenting  the  evidences  of  the  sad  deso- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  181 

lations  of  war.  The  homes  of  wealth  and  comfort,  where 
the  youth  sported  in  princely  grandeur,  are  deserted  and 
shattered  under  the  tramp  of  contending  armies. 

At  noon  an  order  come  by  telegraph  for  the  Division 
from  Bolivar  to  return  that  night  to  Corinth.  It  was  now 
about  3  P.  M.,  and  a  march  of  nearly  thirty  miles  was  not 
very  comforting  to  troops  who  had  been  on  duty  night  and 
day  for  nearly  two  weeks.  The  rumor  was  current  that 
General  Breckinridge  was  moving  upon  Corinth  with  a 
heavy  force,  if  possible  to  capture  it  before  the  troops  would 
return  from  luka.  We  immediately  about-faced,  and 
marched  twelve  miles  that  evening.  We  rested  till  day 
light,  when  the  regiment  started  for  Corinth,  marching 
about  eighteen  miles  in  less  than  five  hours.  We  encamped 
in  the  same  place  we  left  a  few  evenings  before,  tired  and 
nearly  exhausted  for  want  of  rest  and  sleep.  The  men 
went  to  the  stream  and  washed,  and  put  themselves  in  order 
to  enjoy  a  few  days  rest;  this  being  promised  them  by 
General  Grant,  provided  the  enemy  were  willing.  The  idea 
of  a  week's  rest  was  inspiring  to  us  under  such  circum 
stances,  but  such  comfort  was  short-lived.  Just  as  we  had 
finished  dinner  an  order  came  for  General  Leggett's  Brigade 
to  report  at  the  depot  without  delay,  and  go  by  cars  to 
Bolivar,  Tenn.,  leaving  transportation  to  follow.  Bolivar 
was  then  nearly  surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and  fighting  had 
already  commenced,  In  a  short  time  we  were  on  the  way, 
and  arrived  at  Bolivar  about  midnight,  and  found  all  quiet. 
The  enemy  in  force  were  within  five  miles  of  the  place, 
intending  to  make  a  vigorous  attack  in  the  morning,  but 
the  news  of  reinforcements  reached  them,  and  therefore 
they  left  for  parts  unknown. 

The  next  day  our  camp  equipage  arrived,  and  we  pitched 
tents  in  a  beautiful  grove,  and  enjoyed  the  rest  that  Gen 
eral  Grant  promised  us.  After  the  battle  of  the  30th  of 
August,  General  Hurlbut's  Division  was  ordered  from 
Memphis  ^o  Bolivar,  which  increased  our  force  at  this 
place,  and  relieved  us  of  much  duty.  The  regiment  spent 


182  HISTOKY   OF   THE 

much  of  its  time  in  drill,  in  which  it  became  very 
thorough,  under  Colonel  Wiles,  who  soon  became  noted 
for  one  of  the  best  drilled  officers  in  the  service.  I  feel 
assured,  from  extensive  observation,  he  could  not  be  sur 
passed. 

The  people  in  this  community  are  now  beginning  to  feel 
the  effects  of  war.  Many  are  becoming  impoverished,  and 
experience  destitution  in  all  the  necessary  demands  of 
physical  life;  consequently  trains  go  daily  loaded  with 
refugees  North.  The  depot  is  crowded  with  men,  women 
and  children,  who  have  fled  from  the  tyranny  of  pro 
scription,  and  the  uncomfortable  prospect  of  starvation. 
The  poor  and  the  non-slaveholding  go  North,  the  oligarchy 
South.  Society  is  broken  up,  the  men  having  entered  the 
rebel  army,  and  the  women  crowd  together,  consolidating 
homes,  to  unitedly  struggle  with  destitution  and  hopeless 
prospects.  Slavery,  the  great  pillar  of  Southern  society 
and  all  enterprise,  is  beginning  to  tremble,  and  with  it 
must  fall  the  whole  fabric  of  social,  spiritual  and  political 
economy.  It  decides  the  status  of  human  society;  it- 
supports  the  Southern  Church,  which  ceases  here  to  be 
universal,  but  local  and  peculiar  to  itself;  its  religion 
extends  not  beyond  the  peculiar  institution,  The  negro 
with  his  cotton,  ^is  king,  and  holds  absolute  control  of 
Southern  destiny.  This  forms  the  great  educational  force 
of  the  people,  who  are  as  devoted  to  it  as  the  Hindoo  to 
Vishnu.  Slavery  is  connected  with  all  their  thoughts  and 
identified  with  all  their  interests.  The  rebellion  is  one  of 
its  most  direct  results,  and  to  suppress  the  rebellion  without 
interfering  with  slavery,  is  an  absurdity  which  would  be 
only  taking  the  effect  and  leaving  the  cause.  It  would  be 
as  possible  to  obliterate  every  feeling  of  independence  and 
freedom  from  the  people  of  the  North,  as  to  make  a  loyal 
people  in  the  South,  leaving  the  institution  of  slavery 
undisturbed.  You  cannot  render  nugatory  its  effects  by 
any  teachings,  compromises,  or  by  any  principles  of  mental 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I. 

science.     As  well  make  a  mocking-bird  out  of  a  moccasin 
snake,  or  make  the  substance  of  opposite  affinities  unite. 

From  this  arises  the  wisdom  of  the  Emancipation  Proc 
lamation,  which  was  the  key  that  turned  all  our  efforts 
into  success,  and  opened  the  doors  of  victory  and  complete 
success  to  our  arms. 


THE   MOVEMENT  IXTO   MISSISSIPPI 

BY  GENERAL  GRANT,  "WITH  SEVENTY-FIVE  THOUSAND  MEN  —  GEN- 
ERAL  PRICE  EVACUATES  ALL  HIS  STRONG  POSITIONS  AND 
RETREATS  TO  JACKSON,  MISSISSIPPI  —  GENERAL  GRANT'S  COM 
MUNICATIONS  CUT  AT  HOLLY  SPRINGS,  AND  HIS  SUPPLIES 

DESTROYED HE    RETREATS    WITH     HIS    ARMY      TO     MEMPHIS, 

TENNESSEE. 

General  Logan  takes  command  of  the  Third  Division, 
who  remains  in  command  till  after  the  siege  of  Ticks!)  urg, 
when  he  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Fifteenth 
Army  Corps,  and  before  the  close  of  the  war  assumed 
command  of  the  Army  of  Tennessee. 

.Before  the  war  he  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Southern  Illinois,  and  one  of  the  most  influential  leaders 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  that  part  of  the  State.  Upon 
the  adjournment  of  Congress  in  1861,  Hon.  John  A.  Logan 
returned  home  and  immediately  volunteered  in  the 
service  of  his  country.  After  he  had  done  all  that 
human  power  could  honorably  do  by  way  of  compromising 
and  settling  the  difficulties,  in  order  to  stay  the  rising 
rebellion,  he  told  his  Southern  comrades  in  Congress,  that 
since  they  had  determined  to  settle  the  matter  with  the 
sword,  he  accepted  the  challenge  and  would  meet  them  on 
the  battle-field.  This  declaration  he  truly  and  nobly 
sustained. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  185 

His  name  was  a  host  upon  the  battle-field.  lie  had  a 
facility  of  inspiring  his  troops  with  a  courage  and  energy 
unsurpassed.  IsTo  General  has  done  better  fighting,  nor 
engaged  in  heavier  or  severer  battles.  lie  was  always 
victorious.  He  would  always  be  seen  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight  on  horseback,  hat  in,  hand,  leading  his  Division  for 
ward. 

"When  he  returned  to  his  home  from  the  halls  of  Con 
gress  he  told  his  friends :  "I  will  never  sheath  my  sword 
for  courtly  halls  or  civil  honors,  until  my  country  is  saved 
from  the  bloody  tornado  that  is  desolating  the  fairest  land 
on  earth  —  never  until  the  old  flag  floats  in  triumph  from 
every  hill  top  on  Columbia's  soil." 

When  the  party  opposed  to  the  war  made  every  effort  to 
have  him  takes  sides  with  them  and  against  the  war,  he 
tells  them: 

"  Party  lines  and  partisan  feelings  should  be  swallowed 
up  in  patriotism.  I  must  say  that  I  deeply  regret  to  see 
men  in  Illinois  forget  their  country  for  their  party.  While 
your  brothers  are  falling  in  your  country's-  service  like 
leaves  of  autumn  before  the  wintry  blast;  while  their  bodies 
lay  bleaching  beneath  the  summer  sun;  while  the  nation  is 
suffering  throes  of  agony  and  crying  for  help,  you  are 
wrangling  over  conventions  and  candidates. 

"In  the  name  of  God,  fellow-citizens,  cease  this  clamor. 
Turn  politics  over  to  old  men  and  women,  and  rally  like 
true  soldiers  to  the  standard  of  your  country.  I  was  once 
a  politician,  but  so  help  me  God,  I  will  never  sheath  my 
sword  till  my  country  is  saved  and  the  rebellion  ended. 
These  arc  my  politics,  and  indeed  I  am  surprised  to  find  men 
talking  of  anything  else. 

"  Your  country  calls  for  aid,  and  it  needs  it  now.  It  will 
accept  voluntary  assistance  if  it  can  get  it.  If  not,  men 
will  be  forced  into  the  ranks.  There  are  many  reasons  why 
men  do  not  go  to  war,  and  very  few  reasons  why  some  men 
should  not  go. 


186  HISTORY   OF   THE 

"  But  there  are  some  who  say,  <I  can't  go  ;  this  is  a  war 
to  free  the  niggers.'  This  charge  is  not  worth  attention  ; 
hut,  although  no  such  ohject  is  contemplated  in  the  pros 
ecution  of  the  war,  yet  the  negroes  are  getting  free  pretty 
fast.  It  is  not  done  hy  the  army,  hut  they  are  freeing 
themselves  ;  and  if  this  war  continues  long,  not  a  slave  will 
l)e  left  in  the  whole  South.  !Now  let  me  say  to  those  who 
arc  anxious  about  the  interest  of  slavery,  if  you  wish 
slavery  to  continue,  join  the  army  and  help  us  whip  out 
the  rebels  quick,  and  there  will  probably  be  a  few  old 
stumps  left;  if  not,  then  slavery  must  go. 

"Xow,  my  principles  on  this  question  are,  if  the  master 
is  engaged  in  the  attempt  to  overthrow  this  Government, 
take  the  lives  of  our  people,  and  desolate  our  homes,  and 
the  slaves  get  free,  it's  none  of  my  business.  It  is  a  family 
quarrel  in  which  I  shall  not  interfere.  If  the  question 
was  presented  me  as  to  which  should  live,  the  TTuion  or 
slavery,  I  would  say,  the  Union  to  my  last  breath.  The 
Union  is  worth  everything.  If  the  sacrifice  of  a  million 
of  men  was  necessary  to  the  salvation  of  this  government, 
and  nothing  else  would  save  it,  and  I  was  the  arbiter  of  its 
destinies,  I  would  consign  the  million  to  death — and  die  with 
them. 

"I  am  for  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  this  war.  To  do  this 
we  must  have  men,  and  thousands  of  them.  If  necessary  I 
would  call  out  every  able  bodied  man  in  the  loyal  States — 
turn  the  Government  over  to  our  mothers,  wives  and  daugh 
ters.  I  would  give  those  who  wanted  to  go  an  opportunity, 
and  thrse  who  did  not  want  to  go,  I  would  make  an  oppor 
tunity  for  them ;  I  would  make  them  fight  for  the  Govern 
ment.  I  would  stretch  the  army  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  with  fixed  bayonets  and  solid  pha 
lanx  I  would  give  the  order  "Forward  March  !"  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  Every  man  I  met,  who  was  willing  to  fight  for 
the  Government,  I  would  place  a  musket  in  his  hands,  let 
him  fall  into  ranks ;  and  to  every  one  who  did  not,  I  would 
give  the  order,  "  double-quick  time,  march  !"  I  would  drive 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.    V.   I.  187 

every  one  of  them  before  me;  those  who  would  not  submit, 
when  we  reached  the  Southern  boundary  line,  I  would  pitch 
head  and  heels  into  the  Gulf. 

"The  man  who  fails  to  lend  his  influence  and  energies  in 
this  crisis,  who  lingers  while  liberty  bleeds,  is  worthy  a  trait 
or's  doom.  It  is  a  struggle  between  Republicanism  and 
anarchy.  It  is  too  late  now  to  inquire  into  the  causes  that 
brought  on  the  war — the  day  of  compromise  has  long  since 
ended,  it  is  with  the  sword,  the  bullet,  and  the  bayonet  that 
this  national  difficulty  is  to  be  settled,  "We  have  a  cunning 
and  a  powerful  foe  with  which  to  contend — he  is  in  fearful 
earnest,  and  has  been  all  the  while;  the  die  is  cast,  the  Gov 
ernment  must  be  preserved,  It  may  co^t  millions  of  blood 
and  treasure,  but  we  must  conquer." 

The  regiment  with  the  Third  Division  under  General 
Logan  left  Bolivar  the  third  of  November.  Xearly  two 
hundred  volunteer  recruits  had  been  added  to  the  regiment 
a  few  days  previous.  The  war  begins  to  assume  greater 
earnestness  on  the  part  of  the  Union  army ;  rebel  property 
is  no  longer  guarded,  and  the  opposite  extreme  is  reached. 
Almost  every  thing  is  destroyed.  The  march  from  Bolivar 
to  Lagrange,  a  distance  of  twenty-six  miles,  was  very  des 
tructive;  the  beautiful  country  with  its  rich  and  well  improv 
ed  plantations  was  swept  by  storms  of  lire. 

The  march  of  the  different  columns  could  be  seen  for 
miles  and  their  comparative  advance  determined  by  the 
clouds  of  smoke  darkening  the  horizon;  an  officer  who  would 
express  any  disproval,  was  regarded  as  a  rebel  sympathiser 
or  tender  footed,  and  desirous  of  prolonging  the  war. 
The  Seventy-Eighth,  I  am  proud  to  say,  inflicted  less  vandal 
ism  through  the  part  of  the  country  it  marched  than  others, 
but  it  was  evident  that  men  were  not  displeased,  but  give 
manifestations  of  delight  when  they  gazed  upon  the  burn 
ing  plantations.  TLe  exclamations  would  pass  along  the 
ranks,  "that's  right,"  "good  for  them,"  let  them  know  that 
the  Yankees  are  coming.  The  Corinth  forces  upon  our  left, 
laid  the  country  waste  over  which  they  marched.  Tha 


188  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Memphis  forces  on  the  right,  were  no  less  severe.  Such 
punishment  may  be  justly  deserved,  but  I  cannot  help  feel 
ings  of  regret  and  disapproval.  It  is  an  unnecessary  waste 
and  destruction  of  property,  and  had  I  the  power  I  would 
command  forbear.  It  is  demoralizing  to  the  soldier. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  is  good,  all  are  ready  and 
anxious  for  the  march.  The  soldiers  arc  earnest  and  willing 
to  undergo  any  toil,  trial,  and  danger  that  will  give  success 
to  our  arms  and  victory  over  rebellion.  The  regiment 
marched  as  far  as  Lagrange,  where  the  army  halted,  for 
some  days.  The  season  was  pleasant  and  the  situation 
comfortable  and  cheerful;  much  time  here  was  spent  in  both 
regimental  and  brigade  drill. 

The  following  correspondence  to  the  Morgan  Herald, 
by  Captain  A.  A.  Adair,  we  give  as  further  history  of  the 
regiment  at  this  place : 

~\V~c  left  our  camp  on  Monday  morning,  November  3d, 
and  were  formed  in  line,  on  the  road  leading  to  Grand 
Junction,  where  we  were  necessitated  to  remain  two  or 
three  hours  before  we  got  into  motion;  but  the  advance  was 
finally  made,  and  we  are  off  for  the  interior  of  Dixie,  with 
blanket  and  haversack,  hoping  to  ^et  a  chance  to  meet  or 

/  Jr        o  0 

come  up  with  Price  and  his  swift  running  cohorts  and 
army,  that  would  rather  run  than  fight. 

This  being  the  third  time  the  Seventy-Eighth  liad  entered 
upon  its  march  to  the  Junction,  we  thought  surely  it  would 
be  the  charm.  The  roads  were  terribly  dusty,  but  that 
made  no  difference,  and  we  pulled  up  and  encamped  for 
the  first  night,  about  two  miles  south  of  Van  Buren,  where 
we  had  abundance  of  good  chestnut  rails  for  fires,  making 
the  best  of  that  night.  After  breakfast  was  over,  we  soon 
put  out  again  on  our  inarch.  The  First  Tennessee  Cavalry 
(Union)  in  the  advance;  and  of  course  they  are  acquainted 
in  these  parts,  and  know  well  who  are  secesh,  and  who 
are  not,  but  as  nearly  all  are  the  former,  you  may  easily 
imagine  how  property  had  to  suffer.  The  fences  along  the 
roads  were  all  in  flames,  which  were  sometimes  difficult  to 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  130 

pass.  At  one  place  an  old  rebel  had  his  wenches  out 
tearing  down  the  rails,  making  an  effort  to  extinguish  the 
flames.  All  his  bucks  I  presume  had  run  away,  and  left 
the  glory  of  servitude.  On  the  next  plantation  not  only 
the  fencing,  but  a  line  dwelling,  costing  twenty  thousand 
dollars,  was  wrapped  in  flames,  the  rebel  women  having 
only  time  to  get  out  that  indispensable  article  in  southern 
chivalry,  the  piano.  I  suppose  our  cavalry  wanted  them 
to  console  themselves  "Hard  Times,"  or  something  after 
the  same  sort.  The  old  man  had  ran  oli'  in  search  of  his 
rights,  leaving  the  women  and  children  to  the  vandals. 
The  voice  of  approval  was  heard  to  pass  along  our  lines-, 
that  is  right,  destroy  everything  they  have  got,  and  then 
their  war  will  end,  and  not  till  then.  This  tiling  of  guard 
ing  rebel  property,  when  the  owner  is  in  the  field  iighting 
us,  is  played  out.  This  is  the  sentiment  of  every  private 
soldier  in  the  army.  . 

Our  second  day's  march  brought  us  within  half  a  mile  of 
Lagrange  where  we  bivouaced  for  the  night,  but  as  usual 
Company  E.  had  to  go  on  picket;  we  were  posted  about  four 
hundred  yards  behind  the  regiment  and  inside  of  other 
forces.  Therefore  not  being  in  a  very  dangerous  "posish"' 
we  built  big  fires  of  rebel  rails  (which  always  seem  to  burn 
better  than  Union  rails)  along  our  posts.  It  is  reported  that 
our  advance  drove  out  of  this  place  about  live  thousand  of 
the  invincible  chivalry,  and  had  a  skirmish  with  them  at 
Davis'  Mills,  which  might  have  been  considerable  of  a  light 
had  the  rebels  stood  their  ground. 

On  "Wednesday  morning  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  and 
Thirty-First  Illinois,  and  a  detachment  of  the  Seventh  Illi 
nois  Cavalry,  with  a  section  of  artillery  went  out  on  a  recon- 
noisance  on  the  Somcrvillc  road.  "We  halted  about  eijjht 
miles  out,  planted  the  artillery  and  put  out  pickets,  while  tho 
cavalry  went  ahead  to  see  about  the  rebels.  They  returned  in 
two  or  three  hours  with  three  butternuts,  being  the  result  of 
the  trip.  Eiuding  no  enemy  there  except  the  women  we 
started  back,  and  got  into  camp  about  dark.  When  we  got 
inside  of  our  encampments,  marching  through  them  to  our 


190  HISTORY   OP    THE 

own,  the  question  was  asked  at  every  rod,  what  regiment? 
The  answer  was  given  again  and  again,  "Seventy-Eighth"' 
Ohio.  One  fellow  when  receiving  this  answer  responds  in  a 
courteous  manner,  "damn  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  it  is 
every  where." 

On  these  marches  and  scouts  persimmons  and  grapes 
have  to  suffer.  Sweet  potatoes  and  apples  are  about  played 
out  in  this  country.  In  places  where  our  army  lias  been 
encamped  a  few  days  it  is  surprising  how  all  good  things 
disappear. 

The  first  night  of  our  arrival  here,  before  guards  had 
been  posted,  the  boys  went  for  every  thing  in  the  eating 
line;. for  they  were  out  of  rations  and  there  was  no  chance 
to  get  any  till  they  came  from  Bolivar.  Fresh  beef  and 
dead  hogs  Avere  in  good  demand. 

The  Twentieth,  Sixty-Eighth  and  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio 
and  Twenty-Third  Indiana,  constitute  the  Brigade,  com 
manded  by  Colonel  M.  D.  Leggett.  Since  the  arrival  of  the 
new  recruits  our  regiment  numbers  about  eight  hundred 
men.  In  these  parts  it  is  regarded  a  number  one  regiment. 
An  order  from  the  War  Department  was  read  on  dress 
parade  last  evening,  to  the  effect  that  our  transportation 
had  to  be  cut  down  to  four  wagons  to  the  regiment,  and 
that  our  large  tents  would  be  turned  over  to  the  Quarter 
master,  and  small  ones  issued  in  their  stead,  such  as  we  can 
<-arry  on  our  backs.  The  tents  will  be  just  large  enough  to 
hold  two  persons,  one  to  carry  the  tent,  the  other  the  poles, 
all  strapped  to  the  knapsack.  "What  do  you  think  of  that? 
Oh,  it  is  hard  times  1  and  would  this  cruel  war  were  over. 

CAMP  KEAR  LAGRANGE,  TENNESSEE,  ] 
November  27th,  1862.      / 

MR.  EDITOR:  —  As  we  are  on  the  eve  of  leaving  our 
pleasant  camp,  having  been  ordered  to  cook  three  days' 
rations,  and  be  ready  to  march  by  eight  o'clock  to-morrow 
morning,  I  thought  it  best  to  let  you  and  your  readers 
know  of  the  fact.  Although  we  don't  know  where  we  are 
going  to,  yet  our  destination  is  supposed  to  be  South, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMFXT    0.    V.    V.    I,  101 

probably  Holly  Springs,  as  two  days'  rations  will  just  do 
us  to  that  place;  the  distance  being  twenty-four  miles 
from  Lagrange.  As  our  transportation  lias  been  cut  down 
to  one  wagon  for  two  companies;  an  order  was  read  on 
dress-parade  last  evening,  for  the  officers  to  see  that  the 
contents  of  every  knapsack  was  reduced  to  as  little  as 
possible. 

I  wouldn't  be  surprised  if  by  to-morrow  morning  we 
would  Had  it  either  raining  or  snowing,  for  this  evening 
it  is  cold  and  blustering,  and  has  the  appearance  of  being 
ii  very  disagreeable  time  on  our  march,  which  is  about 
the  case.  But  we  will  make  the  best  of  it,  and  go  forth  to 
meet  the  rebel  clique  with  brave  hearts  and  willing  hands, 
looking  to  the  God  of  battles  for  victory  to  crown  our 
elibrts.  If  it  should  be  our  lot  to  get  into  an  engagement, 
you  may  expect  to  hear  the  Second  Brigade,  Third 
Division,  doing  good  service  ;  and  especially  the  old 
Seventy-Eighth. 

Since  I  last  wrote  you,  nothing  of  great  note  lias  trans 
pired,  although  there  has  been  several  sharp  skirmishes 
resulting  in  but  very  little  loss  to  both  sides.  There  was  a 
jjquad  of  southern  gentry  brought  in  a  few  days  ago, 
among  whom  was  a  rebel  Major,  that  was  captured  at 
the  great  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  but  I  suppose  had  since 
been  exchanged.  lie  was  recognized  by  Lieutenant  Owen, 
formerly  of  the  Twentieth  Ohio,  but  now  acting  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  of  our  Brigade,  who  happened  to  be  in 
town  on  their  arrival.  Lieutenant  Owen  accompanied  the 
old  Fort  Donelson  prisoners  to  Chicago,  and  of  course, 
had  the  chance  of  making  the  acquaintance  of  several. 
Xo  doubt  the  gentleman  is  now  whiling  away  his  hours 
in  a  Xorthern  city,  perhaps  Alton,  Illinois. 

Our  Brigade  has  undergone  a  change  since  my  last. 
The  Twenty-Third  Indiana  has  been  transferred  to  th^ 
First  Brigade,  and  the  Thirtieth  Illinois  put  in  its  stead. 
The  Thirtieth  was  with  the  Seventy-Eighth  at  the  time 
of  the  capture  of  Jackson,  and  the  first  march  to  Lagrange, 
and  is  considered  a  good  regiment.  The  staff  of  th<a 


192  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Second  Brigade  is  composed  as  follows :  Colonel  M.  I). 
Leggett,  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  commanding  Brigade.  E. 
!N".  Owen,  Twentieth  Ohio,  Assistant  Adjutant-General; 
Lieutenant  J.  C.  Douglass,  Brigade-Quartermaster ;  Adju 
tant  Hill,  Twentieth  Ohio,  Brigade  Surgeon;  J.  L.  Glcason, 
Twenty-Third  Indiana,  Aid.  But  as  the  Twenty-Third 
has  been  transferred,  I  suppose  he  will  he  removed,  and 
sonic  one  else  appointed  in  his  place ;  Lieutenant  Roberts, 
Seventy-Eight  Ohio,  Aid.  Lieutenant  R.  is  known  by 
most  of  your  readers,  and  makes  an  efficient  officer;  and  in 
his  absence  from  us,  Company  E  loses  u  good  Lieutenant, 
and  a  good  fellow. 

The  boys  are  all  busy  cooking  rations,  and  getting 
ready  for  the  march.  It  would  be  quite  a  sight  for  most  of 
your  readers  if  they  could  see  a  regiment,  on  the  eve  of 
a  march,  flying  around,  getting  all  things  ready,  and 
seeing  that  we  have  plenty  to  cat,  which  is  the  most  essen 
tial  thing  on  a  march.  And  each  one  has  to  look  out 
for  ~No.  1,  or  he  will  be  left  in  the  lurch.  We  have  all 
been  fitted  out  with  clothing,  knapsacks,  haversacks,  can 
teens,  &c.,  and  have  seen  everybody  we  want  to  see  except 
the  Paymaster,  who  is  behind  hand  considerably,  and  there 
is  no  prospect  of  him  making  Ins  appearance  very  soon. 
All  the  kind  of  currency  we  have  is  Sutler  chips,  which 
are  circulated  pretty  profusely;  all  the  sutlers  in  the 
Brigade  taking  each  other's  tickets.  In  consequence  of 
having  no  other  money,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  buy  the  news 
papers,  which  come  through  our  camp  every  day.  When 
offering  the  chips  for  papers  the  reply  is,  "They  are  played 
out,"  which  is  the  case  when  any  other  can  be  had. 

The  health  of  our  regiment  is  good,  generally  speaking, 
but  for  Company  E  I  can  testify  for  certainty;  only  one 
being  sick  and  he  is  fast  recovering,  which  I  think  is  good 
considering  the  season- — Company  F  buried  two  last  week; 
and  yesterday  Company  II  one.  The  weather  we  arc  hav 
ing  now  is  rather  curious,  the  days  being  warm  and  the 
nights  very  cold,  which  you  know  is  apt  to  bring  on  sick 
ness. 


SEVENTY-EKSnTII    REGIMENT  0.    V.    V.   I.  19S 

Our  Brigade,  as  well  as  the  other  Brigades  in  the 
Division,  were  reviewed  on  last  Monday  by  General  Grant, 
in  company  with  McPherson  and  Logan.  It  was  short, 
but  he  seemed  well  pleased  with  the  troops.  On  the  ground 
were  several  of  the  Northern  fair  sex,  who  attracted  a 
great  deal  of  attention ;  it  is  not  oiten  we  soldiers  get  a 
chance  to  see  them,  but  I  thought  they  looked  natural. 
There  were  also  quite  a  number  of  correspondents  on  the 
ground,  taking  notes  of  things  that  passed.  If  your 
readers  wish  to  get  a  fuller  description  than  I  can  give,  they 
can  probably  do  so  by  getting  the  Commercial  or  Chicago 
Tribune,  as  they  both  have  correspondents  traveling  with 
this  command.  Good  bye. 

Yours  truly,  TYPO. 

CAMP  NEAR  OXFORD,  Miss.,  Dec.  8,  1862. 

MR.  EDITOR: — As  I  was  interrupted  while  writing  a 
communication  to  you  at  Holly  Springs,  by  the  startling 
words,  "fall  in  !"  and  having  a  little  leisure  time  now,  I 
will  try  and  finish  it.  Whenever  the  bugle  sounds  to  "  fall 
in,"  everything  has  to  be  stopped,  and  everybody  in  line  as 
quick  as  possible,  for  there  is  no  telling  how  soon  we  will 
be  needed. 

"Well,  the  morning  we  left  Lagrange,  which  was  the  28th 
ult.,  old  Sol  was  shining  forth  in  all  his  splendor,  and  every 
one  seemed  to  be  in  good  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  a  forward 
movement  South.  It  was  some  time  before  the  army 
could  get  in  motion,  we  having  to  stand  and  lie  around 
nearly,  all  day  before  we  could  get  under  way.  We  had 
only  got  three  miles  from  our  camp  at  4  P.  M.  The  reason 
of  our  delay  was,  I  believe,  that  General  Hamilton's  forces 
from  the  Junction  were  to  come  in  ahead  and  take  the 
advance,  but  were  too  late  in  starting,  and  we  had  to  keep 
back  until  they  passed, 

When  we  got  fully  under  way  we  went  it  like  troopers, 
having  good  roads  to  travcL  We  passed  the  Mississippi 
line  at  dark,  but  had  to  travel  on  until  about  9  o'clock 

13 


194  HISTORY   OF   THE 

before  we  could  fin-d  water,  so  we  could  encamp.  Water 
in  samo  places  is  very  scarce,  the  inhabitants  having  to 
haul  it  t\vo  and  three  miles  in  barrels.  It  was  fully  10 
o'clock  before  wo  got  settled  so  as  to  get  our  "grub"  and 
beds  ready.  That  night  was  the  first  we  passed  within  our 
little  shelter  tents,  they  having  been  issued  out  to  us  the 
morning  we  started.  In  some  instances  they  might  he 
considered  a  good  institution,  and  again  they  might  be 
considered  worthless.  I  don't  think  the  inventor  was 
blessed  with  an  overplus  c  f  brains,  or  he  would  have  got 
up  a  little  better  thing.  They  consist  of  two  pieces  of  heavy 
canvas,  made  so  as  to.  fasten  at  either  side  o-r  end,  (that  is, 
they^iavo  buttons  all  over  them,)  but  six  men  generally 
bunk  together,  so  that  both  ends  can  be  closed.  Each  man 
carries  a  half  tent  and  pole,  which  is  about  the  size  of  a 
broom-stick.  The  trouble  is,  they  are  too  small;  but  the 
principal  objection  is,  we  have  to  carry  them.  I  have  often 
heard  of  people  in  the  olden  timoe  taking  up  their  beds  and 
walking,  but  I  never  heard  of  j>eople  walking  with  then* 
houses  on  their  backs  until  wo  had  it  to  do  ourselves* 

We  were  routed  out  early  next  morning  to  proceed,  but 
could  only  get  a  short  distance  until  we  were  delayed  a* 
on  yesterday.  We  contented  ourselves  this  time  by  crack 
ing  hickory  »uts,  which  appear  to  be  ve-ry  plenty  down 
here.  But  we  soon  commenced  moving,  and  didn't  have  to 
stop  again  until  we  got  to  Coldwater,  eighteen  miles  from 
Lagrange,  where  we  found  plenty  of  good  water.  Hudson- 
ville  is  a  little  town  one  and  a-half  miles  from  Coldwaterr 
and  was  perfectly  deserted  with  the  exception  of  a  negro 
woman. 

Part  of  the  troops  moved  on  to  Holly  Springs  that  night, 
but  our  Division  remained  until  morning,  when  we  had  to 
put  out,  carrying  knapsack,  house  and  everything  else  wo 
use.  When  other  troops  would  ask  our  regiment,  they 
would  get  the  reply,  "  We  are  in  the  Quartermaster's 
Department;  we  have  turned  over  all  the  mules,  and  carry 
the  load  ourselves." 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  195 

We  heard  the  first  cannonading  about  11  o'clock  Sunday 
morning,  when  within  two  miles  of  Holly  Springs.  It  was 
naid  to  be  the  rebels  throwing  shell  at  our  advance  from 
their  fortifications  on  the  Tallahatehie,  but  they  did  no 
harm.  We  entered  Holly  Springs  about  2  P.  M.,  with  our 
colors  unfurled  to  Southern  breezes,  and  the  drums  beating 
to  the  tune  of  "  Yankee  Doodle"  and  "  Dixie,"  which  made 
them  open  their  eyes.  As  it  was  Sunday,  we  got  a  chance 
to  see  some  of  the  fair  sex,  on  their  way  to  and  from 
church,  but  they  all  turned  a  snappy  lip  to  us,  and  seemed 
to  think  we  Yankees  had  no  right  to  come  down  and 
disturb  their  peaceful  homes. 

Holly  Springs  appears  to  have  been  at  one  time  a  place 
of  a  good  deal  of  wealth,  and  I  should  judge  it  contained^ 
before  the  war,  three  or  four  thousand  inhabitants  ;  but 
now,  I  suppose  there  is  not  three  hundred.  "We  encamped 
about  half  a  mile  from  town.  While  here  I  heard  there 
were  three  hundred  prisoners,  and  two  pieces  of  canm  ns 
brought  in.  We  found  a  good  many  sick  secesh  here,  but 
they  were  taken  care  of.  That  night  we  had  a  heavy  rain> 
and  the  most  of  our  tents  stood  it  first  rate. 

The  first  of  December  came  in  a  pretty  cold  day ;  but% 
nevertheless,  we  got  orders  to  be  on  hand  and  proceed  on 
our journey. 

The  further  down  we  get,  the  country  and  road* 
appear  to  get  worse.  We  traveled  to-day,  about  eight- 
miles,  to  a  place  called  Waterfortl,  where  we  had  to  wait  for 
u  Division  to  go  out  before  we  could  encamp ;  keeping  us 
standing  around  in  the  cold  two  or  three  hours.  We  were 
called  up  at  day-light  next  day,  to  proceed.  We  had  not 
more  than  got  started  when  it  commenced  raining,  and  con 
tinued  all  day.  We  got  within  a  mile  and  a-half  of  the 
river,  when  we  had  to  He  over  and  wait  until  the  bridge 
(which  the  rebels  had  destroyed)  could  be  repaired.  Hero 
we  were  in  Bight  of  their  first  fortifications,  which  they 
abandoned  on  Sunday  night,  not  getting  them  entirely 
finished.  There  is  one  consolation  we  have  in  stopping  sa 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE 

often,  and  that  is,  there  is  plenty  of  fresh  meat  in  these 
parts. 

"We  thought  that  by  daylight  next  morning  we  would  he 
ahle  to  cross  the  river,  but  it  was  fully  noon  before  we  got 
over,  having  to  go  around  a  big  swamp.  Their  main  forti 
fications  were  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  appeared  to 
be  very  formidable.  When  they  leave  places  like  this,  you 
may  bet  they  will  tnot  stand  anywhere,  They  say  the 
reason  they  left  was  that  Steel e  was  coming  in  their  rear 
and  cutting  off  their  supplies,  and  that  they  couldn't  stand. 
From  the  river  we  only  went  about  three  miles  until  we 
camped,  to  await  the  arrival  of  our  train,  which  had  not 
yet  got  over  the  river.  Here  our  camp  was  in  sight  of 
Abbeville,  a  station  on  the  railroad,  and  at  which  place 
the  rebels  had  burned  the  depot  containing  a  lot  of 
clothing,  provisions,  etc.  They  had  all  been  newly  clothed 
lately,  but  were  badly  in  want  of  shoes,  which  they  say 
they  cannot  get.  I  was  told  by  a  lady  that  they  had  been 
encamped  around  there  since  about  the  18th  of  last  June, 
when  Viliipigue's  Division  camo  there. 

When  we  left  Watcrford  we  were  ordered  to  leave  our 
knapsacks  behind,  to  be  hauled  by  the  teams,  taking  only 
our  tents  and  blankets.  At  Abbeville  we  remained  two 
days  in  consequence  of  our  teams  not  coming  up.  When 
our  things  came  they  were  mussed  up  in  every  kind  of 
shape,  a  great  many  not  being  able  to  find  their  knap- 
eacke,  your  humble  servant  being  one  of  that  number, 
which,  I  suppose,  will  be  a  total  loss.  Consequently  you 
can't  think  hard  of  me  for  not  writing  very  often,  as  my 
portfolio  is  gone  to  the  "  spad- weasels."  Here,  as  well  as 
before,  we  found  fresh  meat  in  abundance.  It  rained  nearly 
all  the  time  we  were  there. 

We  left  Abbeville  about  6  o'clock  on  Friday  morning 
for  Oxford,  a  distance  of  eleven  miles,  which  we  reached 
about  4  P.  M.,  through  one  of  the  muddiest  roads  that  ever 
was  traveled.  J3ut  there  was  a  strife  gotten  up  between 
Quimby's  Division  and  ours,  to  see  which  would  get  there* 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  197 

first;  General  Grant  promising  the  advance  in  future  to 
the  Division  that  reached  Oxford  first,  and  of  course  we 
won  the  laurels.  But  it  was  done  by  some  awful  hard 
marching.  They  had  one  side  of  the  road  and  we  the 
other,  and  it  was  "nip  and  tug"  all  the  way,  except  about 
two  miles,  when  they  commenced  lagging  behind.  Some 
of  the  officers  had  a  pretty  warm  time,  such  as  drawing 
revolvers  on  each  other,  etc.,  but  no  serious  damage  was 
done. 

We  are  now  encamped  about  a  mile  from  Oxford,  in 
the  woods,  but  are  clearing  it  out  as  fast  as  we  need  wood. 
Oxford,  I  think,  is  the  prettiest  little  place  I  have  seen  in 
the  South.  It  is  a  placa  of  about  fifteen  hundred  inhab 
itants,  and  everything  appears  to  be  kept  so  neat  and  clean. 
We  are  now  about  fifty-five  miles  from  Lagrange,  and  by 
New  Year's  you  may  expect  to  hear  of  our  being  in  Jackson. 
We  have  received  no  papers  now  for  over  a  week,  although 
we  get  our  mail  every  two  or  three  days. 

We  have  quite  a  joke  on  some  of  our  Company  E  boys 
Yesterday  six  of  tlipm  went  out  "jayhawking,"  when  the 
cavalry  caught  them  and  brought  them  to  headquarters, 
where  they  were  put  under  arrest,  when  they  were  finally 
released  and  told  they  should  learn  a  lesson  by  this.  I 
mention  no  names. 

As  a  general  thing,  the  boys  have  stood  the  march  first- 
rate,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  sore  feet,  and  eating  a 
little  too  much  fresh  meat.  We  are  all  in  good  spirits, 
anxiously  awaiting  orders  to  proceed ;  but  I  don't  think  we 
will  leave  until  the  cars  get  to  running  down  here.  They 
are  running  as  far  as  Holly  Springs  now,  and  as  the  bridge 
across  the  Tallahatchie  wras  only  partially  destroyed,  I 
think  it  will  not  be  long  until  they  get  down  this  far. 

I  will  try  and  keep  you  posted  in  regard  to  our  movement! 
as  best  I  can.  Yours,  truly,  TYPO. 

WATER  VALLEY,  Miss.,  Dec.  22,  1862. 
MR.  EDITOR  : —  Our  changes  arc  so  sudden  and  frequent 
that  when  we  commence  a  letter  \ve  know  not  where  w« 


198  HISTORY  OP  THE 

may  finish  it.  When  we  awake  in  the  morning  the  ques 
tion  naturally  presents  itself,  where  will  we  sleep  the  next 
night?  When  we  lie  down,  where  may  morning  find  us  ? 

"We  left  the  Yocknapatafa  river  on  the  18th,  about  2 
P.  M.;  advanced  three  and  a-half  miles  and  encamped  that 
night.  And  next  day  the  boys  worked  hard  to  make  their 
camp  pleasant,  clearing  oft*  the  ground  and  putting  their 
tents  in  the  most  comfortable  manner  the  circumstances 
would  permit.  Ahout  sundown  all  were  expressing  their 
delight  that  everything  was  in  good  order,  and  comfortably 
fixed  for  a  cozy,  happy  night's  rest.  Here  and  there  lay  a 
quarter  of  beef,  a  hog  or  sheep,  which  the  boys  had  confis 
cated,  and  expected  to  enjoy  an  extraordinary  supper  and 
breakfast.  But  before  supper  was  cooked,  an  order  came 
to  move  camp  immediately.  Twenty  minutes  were  given 
to  strike  tents  and  pack  up,  which  was  done,  and  we  were 
off  on  our  march  without  supper. 

We  encamped  that  night  at  Water  Valley,  or  rather  that 
morning.  Our  Brigade,  as  usual,  is  selected  for  these 
Budden  moves,  and  for  outpost  duty.  This  is  imposed  upon 
us  in  consequence  of  being  under  Illinois  power.  This 
Brigade  is  now  six  or  eight  miles  in  advance  of  the  other 
Brigades  of  our  Division ;  which  subjects  us  to  much  heavy 
duty,  such  as  repairing  the  roads,  heavy  picket  duty,  and 
great  vigilance  to  guard  against  surprise.  We  are  to  be  up 
every  morning,  and  in  line  of  battle  at  5  A.  M.,  and  stand 
thus  till  after  sunrise.  But  we  soon  get  to  enjoy  this  rather 
than  shun  it ;  and  are  glad  that  it  is  in  the  sunny  South. 
where  we  do  not  freeze. 

The  Seventy -Eighth  are  encamped  on  a  lot  owned  by  a 
school  teacher,  who  has  his  little  school  room  a  few  rods 
from  his  humble  dwelling.  His  room  we  have  converted 
into  a  hospital;  and  are  treating  the  owner  and  family 
kindly  on  account  of  his  impoverished  condition.  His  little 
children  are  crying  for  bread,  and  eat  our  crackers  with 
the  utmost  gratification  and  palatable  relish.  They  have, 
by  great  exertion,  procured  one  meal  per  day. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I,  ISO 

He  professes  to  be  a  strong  Union  man,  but  thinks  the 
war,  on  the  part  of  the  North,  is  for  Abolition  purposes, 
which  he  sustained  by  certain  Democratic  papers  in  the 
North.  When  I  told  him  the  light  in  which  these  papers 
were  viewed,  the  motives  which  animated  them,  and  how 
they  were  regarded  by  the  people,  he  confessed  to  have 
formed  altogether  wrong  conctptions  of  the  spirit  and 
power  of  the  North,  lie  is  most  agreeably  disappointed  in 
regard  to  the  character  of  our  army ;  never  having  been 
in  the  North,  and  never  acquainted  with  the  Northern 
people,  he  is  happy  to  find  that  they  are  not  the  unprin 
cipled  vandals  and  ruffians  that  he  supposed  ;  and  that  we 
infinitely  stand  above  the  Southern  soldier,  in  every  manly 
trait.  The  great  mistake  that  the  mass  of  the  people 
here,  and  in  all  the  South,  make,  is,  they  have  not  regarded 
the  war  on  their  part  as  a  war  of  rebellion,  but  one  of 
defense.  It  is  remarkable  what  strange,  inconsistent 
opinions  they  have  formed  and  been  taught  in  reference  to 
the  war ;  and  when  we  meet  a  good,  honest-hearted  man, 
who  is  content  to  live  and  do  just  as  his  ancestors  did.  who 
thinks  little  for  himself,  and  does  not  believe  that  the 
world  moves,  or  that  society  is  progressive,  or  that  the 
earth  revolves  on  its  axis,  and  its  revolution  around  the  sun 
as  a  common  center  of  a  system  of  worlds,  is  an  Abolition 
lie,  or  a  Yankee  infidelity.  "When  we  converse  with  such, 
with  what  astonishment  they  seem  to  regard  and  receive 
our  views  of  the  war.  It  reminded  me  much  of  talking  to 
Sabbath  School  children  —  telling  them  interesting  ancc- 

<T>  O 

dotes. 

~\Ve  learned  last  evening  that  rebel  cavalry  had  taken 
possession  of  Holly  Springs,  capturing  two  regiments 
stationed  there,  arid  burning  all  our  stores  of  provisions; 
also  destroying  mueh  of  the  railroad.  "We  may  feel  this 
loss  and  misfortune  severely,  for  the  want  of  provisions  and 
r-ations,  unless  the  road  is  again  repaired  in  a  few  days. 
The  idea  of  leaving  two  regiments  to  protect  a  place  like 
] lolly  Springs,  and  the  immense  amount  of  stores  accuinu- 


HISTORY   OF   TUB 

lated  there,  as  a  general  depot  for  our  army,  is  preposterous, 
and  shows  a  great  want  of  generalship  somewhere;  and 
some  one  —  I  need  not  say  who — -should  be  held  responsible 
tor  such  a  military  mistake  and  blunder. 

It  is  a  great  mistake,  and  our  people  should  by  this  time 
have  learned  it,  that  these  important  posts  should  not  be 
protected  by  new  regiments.  These  places  need  the  best 
troops  in  the  service,  and  the  oldest  regiments  should  be 
put  there.  The  whole  thing  is  done  to  gratify  ambitious 
men,  to  open  the  avenue  as  wide  as  possible  to  aspirants, 
who  are  in  the  service  solely  for  selfish  purposes;  conse 
quently  new  regiments  in  this  department  are  regarded  and 
spoken  of  as  of  little  account.  Everything  is  done  to  make 
as  little  use  of  them  as  possible.  The  officers  of  an  old 
regiment  will  scarcely  condescend  to  treat  the  officers  of  a 
new  regimirnent  with  common  military  courtesy. 

Halt!  Here  comes  an  order,  which  reads:  "Move 
immediately  with  all  camp  and  garrison  equipage,  wagons 
and  ammunition  in  front."  Of  course  this  means  a  backward 
movement.  What  is  up  is  known  only  to  headquarters. 
We  soon  shall  ascertain. 

DECEMBER  23. —  Wo  left  Sabbath  evening  about  dark, 
and  arrived  at  Oxford  Monday  noon.  A  distance  of  twenty 
miles  was  marched  in  that  short  space  of  time,  halting  a 
few  hours  only  during  the  night.  As  far  as  we  can  learn, 
our  destination  is  Memphis,  for  which  place  we  will  start 
in  the  morning.  It  becomes  necessary  to  pursue  a  new 
line  of  operations,  making  the  Mississippi  river  the  basis. 

To-day,  while  remaining  at  this  place,  I  made  a  visit  to 
the  Mississippi  University,  the  most  extensive  and  distin 
guished  institution  of  learning  in  the  South.  There  are 
eight  large  brick  buildings,  and  four  dwellings  for  the 
professors,  in  all  twelve,  situated  in  a  pentagonal  grove  of 
about  twenty-five  acres.  I  made  the  acquaintance  of 
Professor  Quinche,  a  graduate  of  Marietta  (Ohio)  College, 
and  formerly  a  resident  of  Galena,  ILL  And  strange  as  it 
xuay  seem,  he  is.  an  ardent  and  devoted -secessionist.  I  spent 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  201 

nearly  all  the  forenoon  with  him  in  passing  through  the 
different  departments.  The  library  is  small,  containing 
5,000  volumes;  some  choice  ancient  works  from  England. 
The  cabinet  is  the  most  extensive,  and  said  to  be  unsur 
passed  in  the  United  States.  It  consists  of  a  rich  collection 
of  marine,  terrestial,  fluvatile  shells,  and  is  the  result  of 
twenty-five  years  labor  and  experience,  purchased  by  Dr. 
1).  W.  Budd,  of  ~New  York  city.  It  contains  over  four 
hundred  genera,  and  upward  of  five  thousand  species,  and 
more  than  twenty  thousand  individual  shells,  many  of  which 
have  never  been  described  in  works  on  conchology.  The 
mineral  collection,  purchased  by  Mr.  Francis  Markoe,  of 
Washington  City,  is  inferior  to  none  in  the  world.  It 
contains  a  lar^e  number  of  rocks,  minerals  and  fossils  from 

O 

different  parts  of  the  world.  The  chemical  department  is 
equally  extensive,  containing  many  of  the  largest  apparatus 
in  the  world,  purchased  in  Germany  at  a  cost  of  over 
$100,000.  The  astronomical  department  is  a  large  building, 
containing  a  lars^e  tower,  with  a  moveable  turret  and  tele- 

O  O 

scope,  costing  ten  thousand  dollars  in  the  city  of  Boston. 

Frederick  A.  P.  Barnard,  L.L.D,,  is  President  of  the 
institution.  Being  from  Massachusetts,  he  left  as  soon  as 
the  State  seceded.  Three  other  professors  broke  for  the 
JS"orth ;  two  went  into  the  Confederate  service,  and  left  the 
institution  without  students,  and  but  one  professor.  Out  of 
a  class  of  twenty-eight  seniors,  in  1861,  all  save  one  are  in 
the  Confederate  army. 

The  University  is  established  upon  a  grant  of  land  con 
sisting  of  thirty-six  sections,  made  by  Congress  to  the  State 
of  Mississippi,  in  1819.  The  land  was  leased  for  many 
years,  and  afterward  sold  to  the  highest  bidder  for  a  million 
of  dollars,  which  forms  the  endowment  of  the  institution. 
For  one  year  it  has  been  a  general  hospital  for  the  rebel 
army,  containing  at  one  time  eighteen  hundred  patients. 
In  a  new  made  grave-yard  there  are  seven  hundred  rebel 
soldiers  buried.  All  grave-yards  we  passed  on  our 
inarches  seemed  to  be  filled  with  fresh  graves.  What  a 


202  HISTOKT    OF   THE 

ttartling  record  of  mortality  will  the  years  1861  and  1802 
mark  in  this  country  !  How  it  admonishes  the  student  of 
prophecy  that  the  time  is  near;  a  time  of  the  most  startling 
developments  and  astounding  events  that  have  ever  occur 
red  in  the  Christian  Era. 

Preceding  the  fulfillment  of  remarkable  prophecies,  a 
short  period  of  the  most  fearful  mortality  is  set  forth  vividly 
by  both  Jewish  and  Christian  writers.  The  impress  of 
God's  doings  in  the  world,  and  his  dealings  with  nations, 
seem  to  be  resting  upon  the  minds  of  great  men,  and 
shaking  the  political  pillars  of  Government.  "  "Watchman, 
what  of  the  night  ?"  is  asked  and  echoed  from  heart  to 
heart,  deeply  anxious  to  know  the  signs  of  the  times.  God 
is  shaking  and  will  shake  political  thrones  till  kings  and 
rulers  learn  that  they  are  under  His  power,  and  that  lie 
reigns  upon  the  political  throne  as  well  as  in  his  spiritual 
kidgdom. 

We  have  just  received  an  order  to  be  ready  to  march  at 
daybreak.  On  our  backward  march  to  this  place  we  burned 
every  bridge  and  trestle-work,  great  and  small,  upon  the 
railroad.  Our  Brigade  has  been  ten  miles  farther  South 
than  other  troops,  except  the  cavalry.  The  Seventy-Eighth 
regiment  does  more  guard  duty,  more  fatigue  duty,  and 
heavier  marches  than  other  regiments  in  the  service.  "We 
are  dashed  about  here  and  there  and  everywhere,  upon 
hurly-burly,  foolish  expeditions,  so  that  it  is  a  wonder  we 
have  a  man  left  for  duty. 

All  Company  E  will  be  able  to  march  with  us  to-morrow 
except  three  —  two  Bowers',  new  recruits  sick  with  fever, 
and  John  "W.  Garrett  with  small-pox.  They  were  sent  to 
the  general  hospital  at  Holly  Springs.  The  regiment  has 
been  exposed  at  different  times  to  small -pox,  and  nearly 
one  dozen  cases  have  been  already  sent  away. 

We  are  in  utter  darkness  as  to  what  is  going  on  in  the 
world,  especially  in  regard  to  the  war.  We  receive  no 
papers.  All  is  perplexity,  doubt  and  rumor.  The  weather 
Las  been  warm  and  pleasant.  To-night  there  are  unmis- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.  V.    V.    I.  203 

takable  signs  that  we  will  have  another  few  days  rain  and 
storm,  which  the  soldier  much  dreads;  we  therefore  antici 
pate  a  few  days  of  hardships  and  discomforts. 

Yours,  etc.,  T.  M.  S. 

The  raid  made  by  the  rebels  into  Holly  Springs  was  ,% 
terrible  disaster  to  the  place.  The  explosion  of  the  maga 
zine  shook  the  city  so  violently  as  to  break  nearly  all  the 
windows,  and  left  nearly  all  the  fine,  large  public  and 
business  buildings  a  pile  of  ruins.  The  amount  of  sutler 
stores  captured  by  the  rebels  was  immense.  The  amount 
of  city  property  destroyed  was  estimated  by  millions,  but  a^ 
it  was  rebel  property  destroyed  by  rebels,  few  regrets  carne 
from  our  army.  The  circumstance  did  much  to  awaken  a 
Union  feeling  among  the  citizens.  Our  troops  had 
impressed  the  people  very  favorably;  no  acts  of  violence 
or  vandalism  could  be  attributed  to  our  soldiers  ;  no  citizens 
were  disturbed  in  their  peaceful  pursuits  ;  all  were  granted 
protection.  The  ladies  occasionally  manifested  unkind 
feelings,  and  would  frequently  give  an  exhibition  of  malig 
nant  contempt,  by  insulting  our  soldiers,  passing  and 
re-passing  their  dwellings.  Two  soldiers,  when  on  police 
duty,  were  one  afternoon  insulted  by  a  couple  of  ladies  of 
wealth,  who  put  their  heads  out  of  the  window  and 
addressed  them  in  words  of  ridicule  and  contempt,  while 
the  father  was  sitting  in  the  door  listening  to  it  all,  with  no 
words  of  disapproval.  The  soldiers  determined  they  would 
not  tolerate  it  any  longer,  so  about  10  o'clock  they  equipped 
themselves  and  proceeded  to  the  above  house,  rapped  at 
the  door,  when  the  old  gentleman  'came  down  stairs  in  his 
night  attire,  and  opened  the  door,  when  the  soldiers  imme 
diately  sprang  in,  telling  the  much  alarmed  man  that  their 
mission  was  for  no  offensive  or  harmful  purpose,  but  purely 
a  military  and  peaceful  one,  and  therefore  requested  him  to 
enter  the  parlor  with  them  a  few  moments,  which  was 
done,  and  a  light  obtained;  they  proceeded  to  put  the  old 
man  through  nearly  all  the  movements  in  military  tactic*, 
He  plead  with  them  to  excuse  him,  but  no  entreaty  or 


204  HISTORY   OF   THE 

reward  could  prevail.  They  gave  him  a  gun,  taught  htrn 
the  whole  manual  of  arms,  and  then  the  common  time 
around  the  room,  and  then  through  the  facings  and  double- 
quick  around  the  parlor,  till  he  perspired  freely.  After  about 
one  hour's  drill  they  dismissed  him,  telling  him  OB 
to-morrow  evening  he  would  he  called  upon  to  repeat  tho 
same  lesson  with  some  additional  movements,  hut  suggested: 
that  if  soldiers  were  treated  with  more  respect  by  his 
(laughters,  for  whose  disrespect  they  held  him  responsible, 
the  lesson  might  not  be  repeated,  but  hereafter  be  discon 
tinued.  They  left  the  .house,  and  the  old  man  to  sleep  over 
his  first  lesson  in  military  tactics.  The  young  ladies  in 
the  meantime  had  become  alarmed  and  fled  to  a  neighbor's 
house,  while  the  father  was  reciting  his  lesson.  The  next 
day  the  windows  were  kept  closed  and  no  ladies  were; 
either  heard  or  seen. 

The  regiment  and  Brigade  arrived  at  Davis'  Mills  Janu 
ary  7th,  where  one  company  of  an  Illinois  regiment  had 
been  posted,  and  repulsed  a  few  days  previous  a  large  force 
of  rebel  cavalry.  Here  we  received  mail  and  boxes  from 
home,  which  were  quite  a  welcome  reception  after  the  long 
wearisome  march.  The  morning  of  the  8th  all  commenced 
to  construct  fortifications,  which  looked  toward  encamping 
for  some  time ;  but  the  morning  of  the  9th  orders  were 
received  to  march  toward  Memphis.  Camp  was  soon 
broken  up  and  the  troops  under  way.  Passing  through 
Lagrange,  marched  five  miles  beyond  and  encamped  for 
the  night.  Here  it  rained  heavily  all  the  night,  making' 
the  roads  almost  impassable.  The  morning  of  the  10th  we 
marched  to  Moscow,  where  we  remained  over  the  Sabbath. 
On  Monday  marched  to  Lafayette,  wrhere  we  remained  till 
Wednesday  morning.  Here  it  rained  all  day  and  night,, 
which  made  it  very  unpleasant,  and  caused  us  to  still  remain 
over  at  this  place.  On  the  16th  it  commenced  snowing  arid 
freezing;  the  snow  fell  eight  inches  in  depth,  and  colder 
weather  we  thought  we  had  never  experienced.  The  men 
suffered  very  much  from  the  cold.  The  sick  were  seat 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  205 

from  tliis  place  on  cars  to  Memphis.  Kcar  German  town, 
fifteen  miles  from  Memphis,  the  cars  ran  off  the  track  and 
several  were  severely  wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the 
18th  camp  was  again  broken  up  and  the  march  toward 
Memphis  was  resumed.  That  night  the  troops,  after  a  very 
long  and  tedious  march,  encamped  near  Germantown, 
where  we  endured  another  night  of  constant  rain.  Tho 
next  morning  the  troops  marched  to  Memphis,  and 
encamped  in  a  beautiful  grove. 

The  following  letters  have  been  written  by  Captain  A. 
A.  Adair,  who  signs  himself  "  Typo,"  and  give  a  very 
good  history  of  the  regiment  while  encamped  near  Mem 
phis  : 

CAMP  NEAR  MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  January  23,  1863. 
MR.  EDITOR: — Although  rny  promise  in  regard  to  giving 
you  a  letter  every  week  or  two  has  not  been  fulfilled,  yet  it 
was  not  my  wish  to  avoid  it.  The  reason  is,  we  have  not 
been  settled  long  enough  at  any  one  place  to  allbrd  an 
opportunity.  It  has  been  march,  march  all  the  time  for  the 
last  two  months. 

My  last  letter,  I  believe,  was  written  at  Oxford,  Miss., 
from  which  place  we  went  as  far  south  as  Water  Valley ; 
being  farther  into  Dixie  than  any  other  infantry  of  our 
command.  "\Vc  had  been  there  only  a  day,  when  we  heard 
of  Forrest's  cavalry  raid  along  the  Mobile  &  Ohio  Railroad. 
Then  it  was  thought  expedient  to  turn  and  take  the  back 
track,  as  they  had  cut  off  all  communication  and  supplies 
from  us. 

This  thing  of  going:  backward  was  something  we  wero 
not  used  to,  and  it  went  a  little  "  against  the  grain."  But 
as  we  had  the  name  of  doing  more  hard  marching  and 
scouting  than  any  other  regiment  in  the  service,  and  knew 
we  could  "hold  our  own"  if  they  would  only  keep  us  in 
"  hard-tacks "  and  "  sow-belly,"  (which  is  the  main  stay 
of  life  in  the  army,)  we  of  course  consented  to  the  move. 

We  traveled  back  over  the  same  ground,  stopping  no 
longer  than  a  day  or  two  at  a  place,  except  at  Abbe vi Tie. 


206  HISTORY    OF   THE 

where  we  remained  about  two  weeks.  There  we  spent  our 
Ohristmas  and  New  Year's.  They  were  rather  dull  holidays 
to  us ;  but  we  did  the  best  we  could  under  the  circum 
stances.  On  Christmas  eve  a  select  ball  was  held  in  a  negro 
shanty  near  our  own  camp;  and  on  New  Year's  day  Com 
pany  E  initiated  Fort  Gleason,  which  had  been  erected  to 
protect  an  old  mill  where  our  grinding  was  done.  For 
here  we  were  entirely  cut  off  from  our  usual  "grub,"  and 
had  to  forage  and  grind  our  own  corn.  "We  lived  on  corn 
bread  «uid  beans  daring  our  stay  there,  which  we  thought 
was  pretty  hard  fare. 

When  we  left  Abbeville,  in  the  evening,  to  move  across 
on  the  other  side  of  the  Tallahatchie  river,  where  the 
remainder  of  our  Division  was — for  only  our  Brigade  was 
stationed  at  Abbeville  —  it  commenced  to  rain,  and  con 
tinued  nearly  the  whole  night.  It  was  very  dark  before 
wo  got  over,  and  having  no  guide  with  us,  (the  officers 
having  all  gone  to  seek  shelter,)  we  got  lost;  and  there  we 
had  to  stand,  the  rain  pouring  down  in  torrents,  until  some 
one  went  to  General  Logan's  headquarters  to  find  out  where 
our  camp  was  to  be.  Having  got  to  it,  the  boys  never 
waited  to  stack  arms,  but  just  stuck  them  in  the  mud  any 
where,  and  went  to  seek  shelter.  But  the  only  thing  of 
the  kind  to  be  found  was  an  old  cotton  gin,  where  they 
wore  piled  in  about  seven  deep  in  less  than  ho  time.  The 
next  morning  you  can  bet  our  Held  officers  got  a  cursing 
from  Logan,  for  he  is  just  that  kind  of  a  man. 

In  coming  back  through  Holly  Springs,  we  found  a  good 
deal  of  it  had  been  destroyed,  but  not  near  as  much  as  had 
boon  reported.  Since  then  I  hear  that  our  troops  'have 
finished  the  destruction  of  the  place,  which  was  a  good, 
thing. 

'When  about  six  miles  from  Lagrange  our  Brigade  turned 
oft' and  went  to  Davis'  Mills;  the  other  two  Brigades  going 
lo  Lagrange  and  Grand  Junction.  From  Davis'  Mills  we 
went  to  Moscow;  and  from  there  to  Lafayette,  and  thence 
t(j  Memphis,  where  we  arrived  on  the  10th.  Our  march 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.   V.    V.    I.  207 

from  Lafayette  hero  was  one  of  the  hardest  we  ever  had. 
It  had  been  raining  and  snowing  alternately  for  about  a 
week.  And  as  we  marched  nearly  all  the  way  on  the  rail 
road,  (the  other  road  being  in  too  bad  a  condition)  the  ties 
being  uneven  and  all  over  ice  and  snow,  you  may  bet  wo 
had  a  hard  time  getting  foot-holds.  But,  notwithstanding 
nil  that,  we  made  first  rate  time,  traveling  thirty  miles  in  a 
day  and  a  half. 

Our  camp  is  now  situated  about  one  half  mile  east  of 
Memphis,  and  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  river.  Th« 
probability  is  that  we  will  stay  there  for  some  time,  a 
week  or  two  at  least.  There  is  no  telling  where  will  be  our 
destination  when  we  leave  here.  It  may  be  Vicksburg, 
and  it  may  be  some  other  point.  On  the  day  of  our  arrival 
-seven  thousand  prisoners  passed  here  on  their  way  North. 
Sherman  had  taken  them  at  Arkansas  Post.  And  yester 
day  it  was  reported  that  McClernand  had  taken  five 
thousand  more;  and  guns  were  fired  in  honor  of  it. 

ftefore  leaving  Lafayette,  all  those  who  were  not  able  to 
march  were  sent  here  on  the  cars.  But  there  was  a  terrible 
accident  happened  them  when  near  Germantown,  about 
fifteen  miles  from  hpre.  The  cars  ran  off  the  track,  killing 
six  and  wounding  seventy-five  out  of  the  Division.  Six  or 
seven  of  our  company  were  among  them,  but  they  all 
escaped  unhurt,  I  believe,  excepting  B.  F.  Bailey,  who  was 
slightly  bruised  on  the  nose  and  back  of  the  head.  The 
cause  was  said  to  be  carelessness  on  the  part  of  the 
engineer.  lie  didn't  want  to  take  them  at  all,  but  General 
Logan  sent  down  a  company  armed  and  gave  them  orders 
to  fire  into  the  train  if  they  moved  without  taking  his  sick 
on  board.  Logan  was  commander  of  the  post;  and  he 
was  bound  to  make  them  live  up  to  his  orders.  He  is  just 
the  man  for  a  General ;  there  is  no  discount  on  him. 

The  long  looked  for  Paymaster  has  at  last  made  hii 
appearance  among  us.  lie  didn't  do  much  good,  though, 
as  he  only  gave  us  two  months'  pay,  up  to  the  31st  of 
August.  Of  course  the  new  recruits  got  no  pay  at  all. 


208  HISTORY   OF   THE 

But  the  Paymaster  said  it  was  the  intention,  in  twenty  day? 
to  pay  this  Department  the  remaining  four  months  pay 
that  is  duo  them,  which  we  sincerely  hope  is  true. 

From  appearances  I  don't  believe  there  will  be  much  of 
it  sent  home  this  time,  as  Memphis  affords  so  many  oppor 
tunities  for  spending  money.  And  as  the  boys  have  seen 
gome  pretty  hard  times  lately,  they  appear  as  though  thev 
would  like  a  change  of  diet.  But  the  principal  diet  with 
some  is  whisky,  which  is  very  abundant  in  town;  and  it 
seems  they  are  determined  to  have  it,  regardless  of  cost  ar.d 
consequences.  A  good  many  have  been  spreeing  ever  since 
we  come  here.  It  is  getting  too  common,  and  they  are 
taking  means  to  stop  it.  We  have  camp  guards  on,  and 
only  t\vo  persons  are  allowed  to  pass  out  at  a  time,  and  then 
only  for  two  hours :  the  passes  to  bo  approved  at  regi 
mental  and  Brigade  headquarters.  We  have  five  roll  calls 
a  day,  and  all  those  who  arc  absent  without  leave  are  taken 
to  headquarters  and  punished.  To-day  they  are  engaged 
in  building  a  guard-house.  Every  day  our  camp  is  filled 
with  women  and  boys  peddling  apples,  cakes,  pics,  etc.,  and 
as  the  boys  are  all  "  flush,"  it  don't  take  long  to  empty 
their  baskets. 

Business  appears  to  be  as  brisk  in  Memphis,  as  though  no 
war  was  going  on.  It  puts  one  in  mind  of  Columbus  or 
Cincinnati.  It  contains  large  and  splendid  business  house?, 
together  with  dwellings  as  nice  as  any  one  could  wish  for. 
And  oh!  the  pretty  women!  It  does  one's  soul  good  to 
view  their  lovely  features  in  passing  along  through  thw 
town,  after  being  out  of  sight  of  them  for  so  long. 

As  usual,  it  is  raining  to-day.  Most  of  the  regiment 
went  over  to  town  this  morning  in  charge  of  the  com  mis- 
gioned  officers  to  see  the  city  of  Memphis  and  the  raging 
Mississippi.  Yours  truly,  TYPO, 

CAMP  NEAR  MEMPHIS,  TBNN.,  February  10, 1863. 
MR.  EDITOR: — The  Seventy-Eighth  is  still  alive  and  on 
duty,  with  plenty  of  rumors  afloat  as  to  our  leaving  hern* 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   HEGIMEXT   0.    V.    V.    I, 

for  the  expedition  at  Vieksburg.     But  as  there  arc  so  many, 
it  is  bard  to  put  any  confidence  in  them. 

It  was  rumored  the  past  few  days  that  we  were  to  leave 
to-dav,  there  being  a  detail  made  on  Sunday  from  the  dif 
ferent  regiments  for  the  purpose,  it  was  said,  of  loading  the 
(Hiartermaster  and  commissary  stores  on  the  boats ;  and  as 
soon  as  they  got  loaded  the  transports  for  us  would  be  on 
hand.  But  I  guess  it  all  turned  out  nix  ;  at  least  we  have 
not  gone  yet,  nor  have  we  any  orders  to  go  that  I  know  of. 
When  we  do  get  marching  orders  I  will  apprise  your  read 
ers  of  the  fact  as  soon  as  I  can.  At  present  there  are  very 
few  transports  lying  at  the  landing,  as  I  was  down  there 
yesterday. 

The  news  from  below  is  rather  meagre.  Maneuvering 
appears  to  be  the  main  thing  on  our  side.  And  as  old  U.  H. 
(United  States,  as  the  boys  call  him,)  Grant  is  at  the  head, 
you  may  expect  to  hear  something  turn  up  before  a  great 
while.  Tie  says  that  when  he  commences  operations  there 
he  is  going  to  light  until  Vieksburg  falls  or  he  loses  every 
man;  and  he  is  just  headstrong  enough  to  do  it,  too.  The 
most  complete  thing  that  has  taken  place  there  was  the 
running  of  the  blockade  by  the  Federal  ram  Queen  of  tho 
West,  of  which,  no  doubt,  you  have  got  the  particulars  ere 
this. 

The  weather  here  has  been  rather  wintry  of  late  ;  several 
snows  have  fallen,  enough  to  airjrd  good  sleighing;  that  is, 
if  we  had  the  sleighs.  But  the  past  day  or  two  it  has  been 
more  mild,  the  sun  shining  forth  in  all  its  glory,  which  has 
run  the  snow  off.  And  now  this  morning  it  has  set  in  for 
a  steady  rain,  and  we  have  a  prospect  of  a  iittle  mud,  which 
is  so  despised  by  all  the  boys.  We  prefer  snow  all  the  time 
to  rain  and  mud. 

I  must  not  forget  to  inform  you  that  we  have  at  last  been 
supplied  with  new  tents,  and  are  no  longer  persecuted  by 
living  in  holes  that  dogs  would  hardly  be  contented  in. 
They  are  called  "  wedge  tents,"  and  are  calculated  to  hold 

14 


210  HISTORY  OF   THE 

five  and  six  persons.  They  wedge  right  close  to  the  ground, 
and  appear  to  shed  rain  very  well.  They  admit  of  a  person 
standing  up  in  them,  and  we  are  not  obliged  to  lie  down 
every  time  we  change  our  linen  (?),  as  was  the  case  with 
our  dog  huts.  Most  of  the  tente  of  Company  E  are  adorned 
with  chimneys  —  the  hoys  having  got  a  lot  of  brick  hauled, 
tried  their  hand  at  masonry.  Tliey  are  a  good  institution, 
and  with  plenty  of  wood  we  manage  to  live  something  like 
soldiers.  Three  cheers  for  the  "  wedge  tents,"  and 'groans 
for  the  "shelters." 

The  other  evening  the  Quartermaster  opened  his  heart 
and  gave  us  some  hay  for  hods.  Of  late  we  have  been 
"grubbed"  pretty  well.  For  some  reason  they  have  been 
issuing  fresh  bread  in  place  of  "  hand-tack,"  which  we  don't 
object  to.  We  are  also  in  receipt  of  "iron-sides,"  beans, 
rice,  hominy,  c(  flee,  tea,  sugar,  salt,  vinegar,  -etc. 

The  general  health  of  the  regiment  is  good,  but  Company 
E  is  rather  unfortunate  of  late,  there  being  two  of  its  mem 
bers  sick  in  camp,  two  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis,  one  at 
Lagrange,  and  one  at  Jackson.  But  at  last  accounts  they 
were  all  doing  finely.  And  if  we  should  leave  here  all  the 
sick  will  be  left  behind  at  the  hospital  in  Memphis,  at 
which  place  they  are  well  cared  for. 

1  notice  orders  ai'e  being  issued  in  the  several  commands 
forbidding  the  sale  or  bringing  of  the  Chicago  Times  within 
their  limits,  it  being  too  much  tinctured  with  secessionism. 
It  ought  to  have  been  done  long  ago,  for  it  is  one  of  the 
leading  Northern  journals  among  the  secesh.  It  always 
finds  a  ready  sale  in  Memphis. 

To-day  Lieutenant  Roberts  left  us  to  join  the  Signal 
Corps,  which  is  being  re-established  in  Grant's  command. 
Ever  since  we  left  Lagrange  he  has-been  acting  as  Aid  on 
Colonel  Leggett's  staff,  and  was  missed  by  Company  E  very 
much,  for  he  was  always  considered  an  efficient  officer  by 
all  the  company,  and  made  a  No.  1  Lieutenant.  Yet  he 
was  often  with  us  ;  but  now  he  will  be  -.entirely  taken  away 
us.  May  he  be  successful  in  his  new  career. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0'.  V.   V.  I.  211 

Company  K  is  considered  the  flower  of  the  regiment. 
The  principal  part  of  them  have  been  on  a  "  hust "  ever 
since  we  came  to  Memphis.  A  good'  d'eal  of  whisky  is 
smuggled  into  camp  by  the  apple  women.  Company  E  can 
"  hold  her  own,"  but  I  don't  think  it  can  touch  K  in  that 
particular. 

As  Valentine  Day  is  near  at  hand,  I  wonder  if  the  pretty 
misses  of  old  Morgan  will  think  so  much  of  the  poor  solr" 
diers  as  to  send  them  mementoes,  that  they  may  carry  them, 
through  the  great  trials  and  struggles  they  will  have  to 
endure  in  the  future.  Yours  truly,  TYPO.. 

CAMP  NEAR  MEMPHIS,  TENN.,  February  19, 1863. 
MR.  EDITOR  : —  Our  "  marching  orders  "  have  come  at 
last,  and  our  doom  may  now  be  considered  scaled.  Orders 
were  received  last  night  to  have  ten  days'  rations  drawn, 
three  of  them  cooked  and  in  haversacks,  and  be  ready  to 
leave  at  any  time  after  six  o'clock  this  morning;  but  orders 
afterward  came  that  we  need  not  cook  our  rations  until 
to-day. 

Now  this  looks  something  like  leaving,  but  it  is  nothing 
more  than  we  have  been  looking  for  ever  since  we  came 
here.     To-morrow   will  make  one  month  since  we  landed 
at  this  place,   and  it  may  be   some   days  yet  before  we 
take  our  departure;  still,  we  are  under  marching  orders.' 
Our  destination,  no  doubt,  is  Vicksburg,  or  some  point  on 
the  Mississippi  river;  so  that  We  can  take  part  in  the  great 
movement  that  will  shortly  occur  against  that  formidable 
place.     I  do  not  believe  there  are  any  of  us  overly-anxious 
to  make  a  cruise  down  there  at  present ;  but  if  it  is  neces 
sary,  (and  no  doubt  it  is)  you  will  find  the  Seventy-Eighth 
ready  and  willing  to  do  their  part.     If  it  should  be  our  lot 
to  get  into  an  engagement,  your  readers  may  expect  to  Lear 
of  them  winning  honors,  and  of  the  *  rebs  "  getting  "  fits." 
The  news  from  below  indicates  that  everything  is  ih. 
motion,  and  that  the  great  decisive  move  will  take  place 
before  long,  which  will  eventually  put  Vicksburg  in  our 
possession.     Victory  is  bound  to  be  ours.     It  is  thought  by 


212  HISTOKY    OF  THIS 

some  (our  expedition  being  so  formidable)  that  an  evr.eua- 
tion  will  take  place  before  everything  which  is  intended  can 
be  brought  to  bear  upon  that  devoted  place.  So  mote  it  be. 

The  best  thing  that  has  yet  occurred  was  the  passing  of 
the  rebel  batteries  by  the  ram  Queen  of  the  West  and  the 
Indianola,  of  which  no  doubt  your  readers  arc  apprised 
before  this.  It  will  be  the  means  of  cutting  off  the  river 
communication  between  Vicksburg  and  Port  Hudson,  and 
will,  in  a  great  measure,  afiect  their  supplies.  In  the  under 
taking  I  believe  three  rebel  boats  were  destroyed,  and 
several  prisoners  taken.  I' wonder  what  their  opinion  of  the 
Yankees  is  by  this  time  ? 

The  guerrillas  of  late  appear  to  be  getting  rather  bold 
in  their  operations  around  here,  and  aro  very  numerous. 
They  often  make  their  appearance  right  across  the  river* 
on  the  Arkansas  side,  and  do  a  great  deal  of  mischief.  It 
was  only  day  before  yesterday  that  they  fired  into  and 
burned  a  boat  opposite  here,  on  her  w?y  down  the  river 
from  Pittsburg.  She  had  a  cargo  of  coal,  and  as  it  way 
very  foggy,  it  is  supposed  she  ran  into  the  bank,  where  she? 
was  destroyed  —  the  officers  and  crew  presumed  to  be  taken 
prisoners.  It  is  said  the  rebels  have  a  "Hying  battery," 
with  which  they  go  from  point  to  point  along  the  river  and 
fire  into  unarmed  vessels  as  they  vrind  along.  Such  bold 
ness  as  that  ought  to  be  looked  after,  and  no  doubt  will  be. 
They  are  also  showing  themselves  at  dilicrcnt  points  on  the 
Memphis  &  Charleston  Railroad,  and  it  would  not  be  Fur- 
prising  if,  when  we  leave,  they  would  make  a  dash  into  this 
place ;  but  I  am  of  the  opinion  they  will  meet  with  a  pretty 
warm  reception  if  they  do. 

The  weather  has  been  very  changeable  for  the  past  week, 
but  we  have  mud  in  abundance.  It  ia  enough  to  bring 
sickness  on  us  all,  yet  we  are  all  getting  along  first  rato 
with  the  exception  of  slight  colds.  The  sick  boy  a  arc  all 
doing  well ;  all  who  were  not  able  to  go  down  the  river 
with  us  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  in  town. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   I.  21S 

To-day  Captain  Stevenson  received  his  resignation 
papers,  they  being  accepted.  He  will  start  for  home  in  a 
few  days,  but  not,  however  until  we  start  down  the  river, 
as  he  wants  to  see  us  off'.  He  will  take  all  letters  the  boys 
may  send  by  him;  and  if  we  get  paid  off  in  time  (and 
we  hope  we  will)  he  will  take  our  money  home  for  us.  By 
an  unanimous  vote  of  the  company,  Lieutenant  McCarty 
was  made  Captain,  (Lieutenant  Roberts  of  course  going 
up  to  First  Lieutenant,  although  he  is  at  present 
detached  on  the  Signal  Corps,)  and  Sergeant  A.  "W.  Stewart 
was  elected  Second  Lieutenant. 

FRIDAY,  February  20,  1863.— We  are  all  busy  this 
morning  tearing  down  tents  and  packing  up,  intending 
to  leave  to-day.  "We  are  expecting  the  Paymaster  every 
moment  to  pay  us  off,  when  we  will  take  our  departure 
for  the  river  and  emigrate  on  the  boats.  A  detail  went 
out  of  tlio  regiment  this  morning  for  the  purpose  of 
loading  the  boats.  Our  regiment  and  the  Eighth  Illinois 
will,  it  is  said,  go  down  the  river  together,  ou  the  steamer 
Louisiana,  said  to  be  a  fine  large  boat.  To-day  the  sun  is 
shining  forth,  and  indications  are  that  we  will  have  a 
pleasant  trip.  May  it  be  so.  Anything  but  a  rainy  time 
when  on  board  a  steamboat. 

.  Be  sure  and  send  us  the  Herald  regularly,  for  when  we 
get  to  Yicksburg  it  will  be  prized  by  us  highly.  Eemem- 
ber  the  boys  of  Company  E  to  your  readers  of  old  Morgan ; 
and  if  we  don't  lose  our  "bean-dippers,"  before  we  get 
to  our  destination,  you  may  expect  to  hear  of  us  doing 
good  work  at  the  battle  of  Vicksburg.  Send  us  letters 
often;  we  are  always  anxious  to  hear  from  those  at 
liome.  Yours  truly,  TYPO. 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MEMPHIS 

;GREAT  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT — OCCUPATION   OF   THE   CITY, 

The  following  is  a  true  and  life-like  description  of  thff 
battle  at  the  city  of  Memphis,  which  will  be  of  interest  to 
every  soldier,  and  especially  to  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio: 

Events  in  this  quarter  have  crowded  upon  each  other  so 
rapidly  during  the  past  thirty-six  hours,  that  sufficient  time 
has  hardly  elapsed  to  record  one  before  another  followed 
upon  its  heels.  Yesterday  Fort  Pillow  was  taken  posses 
sion  of  by  our  forces  and  the  river  opened  to  within  five 
miles  of  Memphis;  to-day  a  great  battle  has  been  already 
fought  and  won,  and  the  city  occupied  by  national  troops- 

Yes,  Memphis,  the  commercial  metropolis  of  Tennessee 
and  hotbed  of  the  rebellion  in  the  South-west  —  Memphis, 
the  city  of  lying  newspapers  and  fire-eating  editors — - 
Memphis,  the  rival  of  Richmond  and  Charleston  in  all  that 
is  dishonorable,  treasonable  and  damnable,  has  fallen  at  last, 
With  the  dust  of  its  streets  clinging  to  my  feet,  and  sur 
rounded  by  an  atmosphere  tainted  with  disloyalty — with 
the  magnificent  spectacle  still  before  my  eyes,  of  its  entire 
population  huddled  together  in  one  dense  mass  upon  bluffs, 
anxiously  watching  the  progress  of  a  desperate  naval  combat, 
upon  which  the  fall  of  the  city  hung — with  the  crashing  dis 
charges  of  artillery,  the  rattle  of  small  arms  and  the  explosion 
of  shells  still  ringing  in  my  ears,  I  seat  myself  to  write  an 
account  of  the  events  of  this  morning,  among  the  most 
important  that  have  occurred  since  the  war  began. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.  V.   I.  215 

TUB   BATTLE   OF   MEMPHIS. 

]STo  one  believed  yesterday  that  any  opposition:  would 
be  made  to  our  entry  into  Memphis,  and  when  Flag-Officer 
Davis  brought  his  vessels  to  anchor  five  miles  above  the 
,city  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the 
wonder  was  expressed  that  he  did  not  advance  and  seize 
his  prize  at  once.  The  gas-lights  certainly  gleamed  tri 
umphantly  in  the  distance,  as  if  beckoning  him  on,  and 
two  or  three  times  during  the  night  a  rosy  flash  lit  up  the 
back-ground  of  the  sky,  giving  rise  to  the  fear  that  the 
town  had  been  fired. 

otfo  move  was  made,  however,  till  about  five  o'clock  this 
morning,  when  the  Benton  and  Louisville  weighed  anchor 
and  leisurely  drifted  down  with  the  current  to  within  a 
mile  of  the  mouth  of  'Wolf  river,  which  it  will  bo 
remembered  empties  into  the  Mississippi  just  above 
Memphis.  Here  the  rebel  fleet,  composed  of  General  Van 
Dora,  Jeff.  Thompson,  General  Beauregard,  General 
Bragg,  General  Lovell,  General  Price,  Sumter  and  Little 
Rebel — eight  vessels  in  all,  under  command  of  Captain 
Edward  Montgomery — was  discovered  lying  close  to  the 
Arkansas  shore,  directly  in  front  of  Memphis.  Believing 
that  men  fight  better  on  full  than  on  empty  stomachs,  Flag- 
Officer  Davis  did  not  desire  to  bring  on  an  engagement 
until  the  crews  of  his  boats  had  taken  their  usual  morning 
meal,  and  he  therefore  retired.  This  retrograde  movement 
was  construed  by  the  enemy  into  an  ignominious  flight, 
arid  immediately  the  whole  rebel  fleet  formed  in  line  of 
battle  and  started  in  pursuit. 

Finding  that  the  enemy  were  determined  to  have  a  fight 
immediately,  the  Flag-Officer,  unwilling  to  check  tho 
enthusiasm  of  his  men,  who  were  not  half  so  hungry  for 
breakfast  as  for  battle,  signaled  his  three  remaining  boats, 
the  St.  Louis,  Carondolet  and  Cairo,  to  join  him  at  once. 
They  promptly  weighed  anchor,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
reached  the  vicinity  of  the  Benton  and  Louisville.  By 
this  time  the  enemy  were  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of 


21 6  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Wolf  river,  and  our  "boats  were  peril aps  a  mile  and  a  half 
above,  with  heads  up  stream,  and  drifting  down  on  the 
strong  current  toward  the  foe. 

OPENING   OF    THE    BALL, 

The  first  shot  was  fired  by  the  enemy  at  precisely  5:?>f; 
A.  M.,  and  passed  over  the  Benton,  dropping  into  the 
river  half  a  mile  beyond.  Two  more  were  soon  after 
iired  by  the  rebels,  neither  of  which  took  effect. 

The  distance  between  the  opposing  forces  was  now- 
reduced  to  about  a  mile,  when  the  stern  guns  on  our  boats 
opened  upon  the  enemy  in  the  liveliest  manner,  and  the* 
light  became  general.  Xearer  and  nearer  together  came 
the  two  fleets,  and  louder  and  quicker  grew  the  sharp, 
crashing  sound  of  the  guns.  The  slumbering  Memphians., 
who  little  thought  when  they  lay  down  the  night  b-eforo 
to  rest,  that  such  a  scene  would  be  enacted  before  their 
eyes  the  following  morning,  were  startled  by  the  first 
report  of  artillery,  and  hastened  to  the  bluff  by  thou 
sands.  All  thought  of  danger,  if  any  had  existed  among 
them,  was  forgotten  in  the  excitement  incident  to  so 
unusual  and  magnificent  a  spectacle.  There  lay  the  con 
tending  fleets  in  the  broad  bosom  of  the  mighty  river,  vom 
it  ing  forth  fire  and  smoke,  each  doing  its  utmost  to  destroy 
the  other.  A  gentle  breeze  swept  up  the  stream,  carrying 
away  the  clouds  almost  as  soon  as  they  were  generated 
by  the  guns,  and  enabling  spectators  to  get  a  very  sat 
isfactory  view  of  the  battle. 

About  ten  minutes  after  the  fight  began,  when  the  fleets 
were  not  more  than  six  or  eight  hundred  yards  apart,  two  of 
our  rains,  the  Monarch  and  Queen  of  the  West,  which  had 
heen  lying  under  the  point  just  above  Memphis,  on  the 
Arkansas  side,  where  they  were  obscured  from  the  enemy's 
view,  shoved  out,  and  sailing  around  the  flotilla,  the  Queen 
of  the  West,  the  flagship  of  the  ram  fleet,  in  advance,  they 
passed  down  on  the  Tennessee  side,  at  their  highest  rate  of 
speed,  loudly  cheered  by  the  gunboat  crews.  The  appear 
ance  of  these  vessels  seemed  to  take  the  enemy  entirely  by 


SEVEXTY-EICxIITH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  217 

aurpriso.  Evidently  they  had. not  "  reckoned"  upon  them, 
and  not  knowing  what  the^v  were,  thought  it  best  to  keep  out 
of  their  way.  First  the  rebel  flotilla  came  to  a 'sudden  halt, 
and  then  it  began  to  fall  back.  On  went  the  Queen  in 
splendid  style,  wearing  a  huge  ruffle  on  her  prow,  and  steer 
ing  for  the  General  Beauregard,  the  rebel  boat  nearest  the 
Tennessee  shore.  When  only  a  few  rods  distant,  the  latter 
tired  a  gun  at  her,  but  so  excited  were  her  gunners,  that 
they  missed  the  huge  target  entirely.  The  pilot  of  the 
.lieuuregartl,  however,  understood  his  business  better,  and 
!>v  skillful  maneuvering  succeeded  iu  avoiding  the  blow. 

*•  O  £3 

THE  rinsT  REBEL  BOAT  DISABLED. 

Xothing  discouraged,  the  Queen  turned  her  bow  toward 
the  General  Price,  the  next  nearest  boat,  and  striking 
her  a  glancing  blow  on  the  port  quarter,  tore  her  side  nearly 
oil:',  and  caused  her  to  take  water  so  badly,  that  she  had  to 
be  run  to  the  Arkansas  shore  to  prevent  her  from  going 
down  in  deep  water.  She  now  lies  opposite  Hopefield, 
] >ar tlal ly  submerged. 

As  the  Queen  of  the  "West  was  leaving  the  Beauregard, 
the  latter  fired  a  second  shot  at  her,  which  struck  her  on 
the  bulwarks,  causing  the  splinters  to  ily  pretty  freely. 
One  of  these  struck  Colonel  Ellet,  the  commander  of  the 
ram  fleet,  on  the  breast,  stunning  him  severely.  His  flag 
ship,  after  her  collision  with  the  General  Price,  was  found 
to  be  disabled  in  some  way,  and  could  not  be  managed. 
The  blow  had  probably  started  her  machinery.  She  was 
also  turned  ashore,  near  where  the  General  Price  had  sunk. 

While  the  Queen  of  the  West  had  been  doing  such  splen 
did  service,  the  Monarch  followed  in  her  wake,  and  did 
just  what  the  Queen  had  at  first  tried  to  do — struck  the 
General  Beauregard  a  tremendous  blow  amidships,  com 
pletely  disabling  her.  She  managed  to  reach  the  Arkansas 
shore  in  some  way,  when  she  went  clown  in  fifteen  feet 
water.  Her  crew  escaped  in  the  woods.  Before  being 
struck  by  the  Monarch,  the  Beauregard  had  been  raked 
fore  and  aft  by  our  guns  and  was  badly  riddled. 


218  HISTORY   OP   THE 

The  next  victim  of  the  rebel  flotilla,  which  had  by  this 
time  fallen  down  the  stream  as  far  as  Beale  street,  was  the 
General  Lovell.  A  fifty-pound  shot,  fired  by  Captain 
Phelps  of  the  Benton,  struck  her  just  below  her  water  line, 
and  caused  her  to  sink  in  eighty  feet  water  three  minutes 
after. 

The  scene  on  the  Lovell  after  she  was  struck  was  painful 
in  the  extreme.  The  crew  stood  by  her,  because  they  were 
afraid  of  the  mighty  river,  until  the  water  put  out  her  fires 
and  filled  the  boat  with  steam,  scalding  many  of  them  badly, 
when  all  leaped  into  the  stream.  For  a  few  minutes  the 
surface  of  the  water  was  covered  with  these  unfortunate 
and  misguided  creatures,  struggling  for  their  lives. 


And  here  looms  up  a  picture  of  genuine  chivalry  and 
heroism,  which  should  make  the  cheeks  of  our  Southern 
detainers  tingle  with  shame.  A  boat  was  promptly  lowered 
from  the  Benton,  and  started  for  the  scene  to  receive  the 
drowning  men.  A  minute  before  our  gallant  tars  had 
poured  shot  and  shell  into  them  without  mercy,  for  they 
were  enemies  then,  and  on  an  equality ;  but  now  they  were 
helpless,  and  everything  was  forgotten  save  the  dictates  of 
humanity.  In  the  hurry  of  the  moment  the  boat  was  par 
tially  swamped,  and  two  of  our  men  narrowly  escaped 
drowning ;  but  matters  were  soon  righted,  and  a  few  hasty 
strokes  of  the  oars  brought  them  to  where  the  Lovell  had 
just  gone  down,  down  in  the  seething  current,  causing  the 
water  to  whirl  like  a  maelstrom  over  the  forever  obscured 
wreck.  Quite  a  number  of  persons  were  rescued  by  tlio 
gallant  boat's  crew,  some  of  them  bleached  whiter  by  the 
steam  than  their  souls  could  ever  have  been  washed  if  they 
had  not  speedily  repented ;  but  the  majority  of  them  were 
swept  away  and  drowned.  Among  those  known  to  be  lost 
was  her  commander,  Captain  William  Cabell,  an  old  and 
well  known  river  man. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  219 

PRECIPITATE  RETREAT   OP   THE   REMAINDER  OF  THE  REBEL  FLEET. 

It  is  almost  needless  to  say  that  ere  this  the  enemy  were 
rapidly  retreating.  Our  boats,  which  had  gone  into  the 
engagement  stern  foremost,  because  they  were  better  pre 
pared  in  that  quarter  to  sustain  butting  from  the  opposing 
rams,  (all  the  rebel  boats,  I  have  neglected  to  say,  were  also 
rams,)  had  long  since  turned  round,  giving  the  enemy  broad 
sides  as  they  swung,  and  were  now  pursuing  them,  head  on. 
After  the  Lovell  wTent  down,  it  was  most  emphatically  a 
running  fight. 

The  Little  Rebel,  finding  it  impossible  to  escape,  was 
run  ashore  on  the  Arkansas  side,  the  crew  taking  to  their 
heels.  A  few  shells  were  sent  after  them,  but  these  rebels 
can  run  nearly  as  well  as  the  Virginians,  and  I  do  not 
think  velocity  enough  could  be  given  to  any  ball  to  over 
take  an  F.  F.  Y.  when  once  fairly  under  way,  so  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  all  escaped. 

]$"ext,  the  Jeff.  Thompson  was  beached  and  fired,  and 
her  crew  shelled  in  the  same  manner;  and  then  the  Sumter, 
and  then  the  General  Bragg— all  on  the  Arkansas  shore, 
nearly  opposite  Fort  Pickering.  If  these  boats  had  had  full 
crews,  how  alive  with  running  rebels  the  woods  must 
have  been. 

The  remaining  rebel  vessel,  the  Van  D.orn,  was  hotly 
pursued  by  two  of  our  fleetest  boats,  as  far  as  the  foot  of 
President's  Island,  where  the  chasq  was  given  up.  Her 
heels  were  all  that  saved  her,  and  she  is  the  only  one  left 
to  tell  the  tale  of  the  overwhelming  disaster  to  the  hemmed-. 
in  rebels  below.  ~No  doubt  she  will  claim  that  the  Lincoln. 
Armada  was  entirely  annihilated.. 

The  most  magnificent  spectacle  of  the  day  was  the  explo-. 
aion  of  the  Jeff.  Thompson,  Shortly  after  she  was  beached,, 
she  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire,  and  continued  to  burn 
fiercely  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  her  magazine  ignited, 
blowing  all  that  remained  of  the  ill-fated  craft  into  ten 
thousand  atoms.  A  large  number  of  shells  were  on  board,  and 
many  of  these  were  thrown  high  into  the  air,  where  they 


2*20  HISTORY   OF   T1IE 

burst  with  a  sound  like  the  firing  of  a  feu  de  joic,  scatter 
ing  their  fragments  in  every  direction.  The  spectacle  was 
line,  even  in  the  broad  glare  of  a  June  sun;  but  at  night 
it  would  have  rivaled  in  grandeur  the  finest  pyrotechnic 
display. 

HOW    THE    GENERAL   BRAGG   WAS    SAVED. 

One  of  the  most  formidable  looking  boats  of  the  rebel  fleet 
was  the  General  Bragg.  She  was  originally  the  Marquis 
do  llabana,  a  condemned  slaver,  and  more  recently  the  New 
<  Jrleans  and  Galveston  steamer  Mexico.  It  was  the  Brain' 

OO 

thnt  gave  the  Cincinnati  her  heaviest  blow  in  the  gunboat 
1:i;ht  above  Fort  Pillow  on  the  10th  of  May.  Soon  after 
the  was  run  ashore  this  morning  she  was  boarded  by  Lieu- 
U'liunt  Bishop  and  a  boat's  crew  from  the  Benton,  who 
found  her  boilers  dry  and  red  hot,  and  the  cotton  between 
her  outside  and  inside  bulwarks  in  flames.  "With  the  greatest 
ditiiculty  they  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  fire  before 
any  serious  damage  had  been  done,  and  after  the  fight  she 
was  towed  up  to  the  city.  Lieutenant  Bishop,  a  gallant  and 
gentlemanly  young  officer,  should  be  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Brasrff  at  once. 

OO 

RECAPITULATION. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  seven  of  the  eight 
vessels  composing  the  rebel  flotilla  were  captured,  sunk  and 
destroyed,  as  follows:  . 

General  Price,  sunk  in  shoal  water;  can  be  raised. 

General  Beauregard,  sunk  in  shoal  water  ;  can  be  raised. 

General  Lovell,  utterly  destroyed. 

General  Thompson,  burned  to  the  water's  edge. 

General  Bragg,  abandoned  and  captured. 

Little  l.xebel,  abandoned  and  captured. 

Sumter,  abandoned  and  captured. 

General  Van  Dorn,  escaped. 

THE    DAMAGE    TO    OUR   FLEET. 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  not  one  of  our  gunboats  was 
struck  once,  and  not  a  man  was  injured  on  our  side,  except 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.    I.  221 

Colonel  Ellet.  One  shell  exploded  over  the  Benton,  but 
did  no  harm.  Colonel  Ellct's  wound  and  the  injuries  to 
the  Queen  of  the  West  arc  the  sum  total  of  tho  casualties 
on  the  national  side. 

It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  with  any  certainty  the  loss 
of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  though  it 
must  have  been  quite  heavy.  Their  guns  were  nearlv  all 
exposed  to  the  bows  and  sterns  of  tlisir  boats,  and  after  the 
opposing  forces  came  into  close  quarters  our  sharpshooters 
picked  off  their  gunners  as  fast  as  they  showed  themselves. 
It  is  thought  that  from  twenty-live  to  fifty  perished  when 
the  General  Loveli  went  down. 

IMPORTANCE   OP   OUR  VICTORY. 

The  victory  just  won  not  only  gives  us  Memphis,  lr;t 
the  Mississippi  river.  Our  upper  and  lower  fleets  will  soon 
join  each  other,  for  if  Flag-Officer  Farragut  cannot  teach 
the  braggart  Mississippians  how  to  surrender,  I  am  *ure 
Flag-Officer  Davis  can.  Commodore  llollins  is  said  to  be 
below  us  with  four  boats,  but  he  cannot  escape,  except  by 
burning  his  fleet  and  taking  to  the  woods.  The  old  gascon 
will  never  tell  in  another  Southern  bar-room  how  he 
" peppered"  us  again.  This  victory  about  finishes  up  tho 
war  in  the  South-west.  It  cuts  what  your  contemporary, 
tho  Commercial,  would  probably  call  the  "umbilical  cord" 
of  the  bogus  Confederacy,  and  effectually  separates  tho 
East  from  the  West.  How  the  rebel  leaders  are  to  sur 
vive  the  blow  is  past  my  comprehension.  The  attempt 
to  establish  a  slave  oligarchy  in  this  free  land  has  proved 
a  most  wretched  abortion. 

In  addition  to  being  one  of  tho  most  decisive  and 
important  victories  of  the  war,  the  battle  of  Memphis 
is  also  the  most  brilliant.  Indeed,  it  is  quite  safe  to  say 
that  it  is  the  most  brilliant  engagement  on  record.  Ifc 
lasted  precisely  an  hour  and  three  minutes,  the  robe  It 
having  fired  the  first  shot  at  5:40,  and  the  Nationals  tho 
last  at  C:43.  Hew  little  the  victory  cost  us,  and  ho* 


222  HISTORY   OF  THE 

dearly  the  rebels  paid  for  the  defeat!  How  noblj  doea 
our  gallant  navy  maintain  its  well  earned  reputation ! 
What  heavy  blows  has  it  dfialt  the  rebellion  from  Hatteras 
to  Memphis!  All  honor  to  our  brave  tare] 


TRIP  BOWK  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 

CAMP  AT  1LAKE  PROVIDENCE  —  VISTA  PLANTATION  —  YOUNG' S 
POINT  —  CANAL  —  GRAND  GULF  —  PORT  GIBSON  —  RAYMOND  — 
JACKSON'—  CHAMPION  HILLS— BLACK  RIVER  —  VICKSBURG. 

The  regiment  left  camp  at  Memphis  the  evening  of  Feb- 
ruary  20,  and  emharked  on  the  Edward  Walsh  in  company 
with  the  Thirtieth  Illinois:  The  Paymaster  was  engaged 
in  paying  the  regiment  when  the  order  came  to  march  to 
the  boat.  lie  accompanied  the  regiment  to  the  boat  and 
iiiiirihed  his  work  on  board. 

The  troops  remained  aboard  until  the  morning  of  the 
£2d,  before  the  boat  left  the  landing.  All  the  Division 
was  loaded  by  Sabbath  morning,  and  left  about  8  o'clock, 
the  steamer  Continental  making  the  start,  then  followed  the 
John  Dickey,  Platte  Valley,  Louisiana,  Edward  Walsh, 
David  Tatum,  Mary  Forsythe  and  others,  in  all  eleven 
boats,  the  flag-boat  Superior  bringing  up  the  rear.  The 
trip  was  unpleasant  on  account  of  the  cold,  rainy  weather. 
While  lying  at  the  wharf  many  of  the  boys  in  some  way 
eluded  the  vigilance  of  the  guards,  and  went  off  up  town, 
determined  to  have  a  farewell  spree  before  going  down  the 
Mississippi.  Although  spirits  were  freely  imbibed,  yet  very 
few  cases  of  drunkenness  occurred  on  board. 

After  a  ride  of  twenty-six  hours  we  landed  at  Providence, 
a  distance  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  from 
Memphis,  We  encamped  in  a  cotton  field,  on  the  south 


224  HISTORY   OF   THE 

bank  of  Lake  Providence,  about  one  and  a-half  miles  from 
the  Mississippi  river,  which  is  plainly  in  view,  being  much 
higher  than  the  lake  and  surrounding  country.  Although 
it  is  February,  the  peach  trees  are  in  bloom,  and  but  little 
fire  is  needed.  The  contrast  between  the  climate  here  and 
ut  Memphis  is  great. 

Lake  Providence,  about  which  there  is  so  much  talk,  if* 
about  one  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  town,  and  is  said  to 
be  seven  miles  in  length.  There  are  about  five  hundred 
negroes  digging  a  canal  from  the  lake  to  the  river;  the 
object  being  to  turn  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  into  the 
lake,  so  that  our  boats  can  cross  the  Eed  river,  cut  off  the 
rebel  supplies  from  Texas,  and  Hank  the  batteries  of  Vieks- 
burg.  The  course  is  from  the  lake  into  Bayou  Tensas, 
thence  into  Bayou  Mason,  thence  into  Black  and  .Red 
rivers,  and  then  down  into  the  Mississippi  again.  The 
work  is  progressing  rapidly,  and  is  now  nearly  half  done. 
Negroes  are  also  at  work  clearing  the  timber  from  the 
Bayous.  The  lake  is  about  twelve  feet  lower  than  the 
river.  Yicksburg  is  seventy  miles  down  the  river,  and 
forty  by  land. 

Up  to  March  9th,  nothing  of  interest  has  transpired ; 
everything  has  been  quiet  except  the  occasional  appearance 
of  a  few  guerrillas  in  our  front.  Since  our  arrival  here, 
the  regiment  has  had  much  heavy  duty.  The  work  on  tho 
canal  has  been  going  on  undisturbed  until  the  8th,  when 
operations  had  to  be  suspended,  in  consequence  of  the  water 
in  the  bayou  rising  and  flowing  towards  the  river.  It  i* 
supposed  to  be  the  work  of  rebels  who  have  con 
structed  a  dam  some  twelve  miles  below.  Sixteen  regi 
ments  and  a  section  of  artillery  were  sent  down  to  look 
after  them.  Guerrillas  are  said  to  be  swarming  the 
country  in  great  numbers,  but  as  yet  have  done  little 
damage.  It  is  reported  they  have  routed  Quimby'a  Division 
which  was  encamped  about  twenty  miles  from  this  place ; 
the  rebels  cut  the  levee  above  them  and  let  the  water  so 
spread  as  to  prevent  their  finding  suitable  camping  ground*. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  225 

Lake  Providence  was,  for  the  first  time,  honored  last 
week  by  the  launching  of  a  steam  craft  into  its  waters. 
She  is  intended  to  ply  up  and  dawn  the  lake,  and  assist  in 
the  work  of  the  canal.  Flatboats  are  also  being  built  for 
the  same  purpose.  It  is  hoped  that  before  long  we  may  bo 
permitted  to  take  passage  on  the  boats  when  going  to  work 
on  the  canal  and  bayou,  instead  of  having  to  foot  it  eight 
or  ten  miles  per  day.  I  believe  the  work  upon  the  canal 
will  result  in  a  grand  failure. 

We  have  been  visited  while  here  by  some  very  severe 
storms,  hail  coming  down  as  large  as  marbles,  and  the  rain 
in  torrents.  Sprinkling  is  unknown  in  this  country;  when 
it  comes,  it  falls  in  sheets  of  water.  Since  our  arrival  here 
the  Government  has  been  extensively  engaged  in  the  cotton 
business.  Every  day  teams  are  engaged  in  bringing  in 
confiscated  cotton,  and  new  discoveries  are  being  made  of 
cotton  hid  in  swamps.  In  a  cancbrake  near  where  our  men 
are  tit  work  two  hundred  and  fifty  bales  were  found.  The 
negroes  are  also  at  work  picking  the  cotton.  On  the  plan 
tation  where  our  troops  are  encamped,  one  field  of  cotton  is- 
fifteen  hundred  acres  in  extent.  The  men  amuse  them 
selves  by  playing  ball  and  sailing  on  the  lake. ' 

The  following  letters  written  by  Captain  A.  A.  Adair 
give  a  full  history  of  the  regiment  at  this  place : 

CAMP  ON  THE  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER,  1 
XEAR  PROVIDENCE,  LA.,  March  19,  1863.      / 

We  are  still  in  the  land  of  the- living  with  heat  and  galli- 
nippers  plenty. 

On  Saturday  last  orders  were  received  to  kave  three  days' 
rations  in  haversacks,  and  be  ready  to  go  aboard  the  trans 
ports,  (which  were  lying  in  wTait  for  us, )  the  next  morning. 
Accordingly,  rations  were  drawn,  cooked  and  put  in  our 
haversacks ;  details  were  made  to  load  the  boats  and  every 
thing  was  taken  down  and  packed  up  ;  fully  expecting  to- 
be  on  our  way  for  the  Yazoo  Pass,  (which  was  currently 
reported  to  be  our  destination, )  by  daylight  next  morning. 

15 


226  HISTORY   OF   THE 

As  is  generally  the  case  whenever  we  go  to  move,  it  com 
menced  raining,  and  continued  until  we  got  on  the  boat, 
which  was  about  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  when  it  commenced  clear 
ing  up.  Being  so  regular  I  suppose  it  must  be  military. 

Everything  had  been  loaded  and  we  were  all  on  onr 
respective  boats,  which  had  been  assigned  us,  before  dark, 
and  were  waiting  for  the 'time  to  roll  around  when  we 
would  put  out.  Most  of  the  boats  were  occupied  by  two 
regiments;  but  one  boat,  (the  Gladiator,)  only  had  the 
"Brigade  headquarters,"  and  the  Seventy-Eighth  on  board, 
making  it  much  more  comfortable  for  us  than  when  coming 
down  from  Memphis.  One  regiment  of  our  Brigade,  the 
Thirtieth  Illiniois,  was  compelled  to  remain  behind,  there 
being  no  transportation  for  it  at  that  time ;  but  it  was  to  fol 
low  as  soon  as  possible.  On  our  going  to  the  boat  the  Thir 
tieth  was  inline,  and  gave  us  parting  salutes  and  cheers  as 
we  passed  by,  thus  showing  the  good  feeling  that  existed 
between  them  and  the  Seventy-Eighth. 

"While  thus  situated  a  boat  arrived  from  the  fleet  below, 
countermanding  the  movements  we  had  in  prospect,  and 
compelling  us  to  remain  where  we  were,  and  await  further 
orders.  Of  course  every  one  was  wondering  what  was  up, 
and  it  was  soon  reported  the  rebels  were  evacuating  Yicks- 
burg  and  going  to  reinforce  Johnston  to  operate  against 
Rosecrans,  which  appeared  to  gain  considerable  credence; 
but  whether  it  is  so  or  not,  I  cannot  say. 

Next  morning,  however,  the  boat  returned  to  the  fleet  to 
see  what  was  to  be  done,  and  in  the  meantime  we  were 
making  ourselves  as  comfortable  as  we  could.  Whenever 
we  are  put  on  boats  a  guard  is  always  placed  so  as  to  keep 
the  men  on,  but  as  the  boat  was  lying  close  to  the  shore  the 
boys  would  jump  off  despite  all  the  guards  could  do.  In 
cases  of  that  kind  guards  are  not  overly  attentive,  and  do 
not  care  whether  the  boys  get  off  or  not. 

On  the  evening  of  the  16th,  and  while  we  were  lying  at 
the  landing  awaiting  orders,  the  levee  Avas  cut  and  the  water 
of  the  raging  Mississippi  was  turned  into  Lake  Providence. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  227 

When  it  was  known  it  was  the  intention  to  do  so,  a  lot  of 
the  boys  volunteered,  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before 
the  water  made  its  appearance  on  the  other  side,  all  being 
anxious  to  see  it  done  before  we  left.  Two  trenches  were 
dug  about  thirty  feet  apart,  leaving  the  water  to  wash  out 
the  space  between.  And  against  morning  all  was  clear, 
and  the  water  gushing  through  at  a  furious  rate,  putting 
one  in  mind  of  the  dams  in  the  Muskingum  in  time  of  high 
water.  By  this  time,  I  expect  some  of  the  old  seccsh  back 
in  the  country  are  wondering  what's  up,  and  are  beginning 
to  skedaddle. 

Yv"e  had  remained  on  the  boat  all  that  day,  and  until  about 
ten  o'clock  the  next,  when  orders  came  for  us  to  go  into 
camp  above  Providence,  keeping  all  the  Division  together. 
The  Gladiator  having  the  least  on,  and  being  already  lircd 
up,  General  Logan  went  aboard  and  had  her  cruise  along 
up  the  shore  until  a  suitable  camping  ground  could  be 
found,  the  other  boats  following  shortly  after.  All  was 
unloaded,  our  new  camp  cleaned  oft',  and  the  tents  up  before 
dark.  AYe  are  now  about  five  miles  above  Providence,  in  a 
corn  iiekl,  and  but  a  short  distance  from  the  river,  affording' 
us  a  good  view  of  all  the  boats  passing  up  and  down. 

Kumors  are  prevalent  that  our  Division  will  go  to  rein 
force  Ivosecrans,  should  it  prove  true  that  the  rebels  are 
reinforcing  Johnston  from  Vieksburg.  And  we  arc  all 
anxious  that  it  may  be  so,  for  we  are  getting  tired  of  this 
country  ;  it  is  a  little  too  hot  for  comfort,  and  then  the 
gallinippers !  Oh.!  dear,  they  are  enough  to  torment  any 
one  to  death.  They  are  beginning  to  let  us  know  they  are 
about,  by  buzzing  around  and  occasionally  taking  a  fellow 
a  dip  along  side  the  lug,  and  of  course  always  leaving  their 
mark.  They  are  a  different  and  much  larger  species  than 
you  have  in  the  Xortli. 

The  Yazoo  Pass  was  undoubtedly  the  place  we  were  des 
tined  for,  and  there  has  certainly  something  of  importance 
turned  up  which  prevented  our  going,  but  I  do  not  believe 
we  will  remain  here  long.  I  think  we  will  either  go  back 


228  HISTORY   OF   THE 

to  Tennessee,  or  go  -down  in  front  of  Vicksburg.  I  hope 
it  will  be  the  farmer,  for  then  we  will  stand  a  chance  of 
coining  in  contact  with  Ohio  regiments  in  which  there  are 
companies  from  old  Morgan, 

In  this  camp  we  are  not  at  a  loss  for  water,  as  wre  can  dig 
down  only,  three  feet  and  get  a  supply  of  good,  clear  water, 
right  at  home.  Rails  arc  also  plenty,  making  first  rate  fire 
wood. 

CAMP  ON  VISTA  PLANTATION,  March  29,1863. 

MR.  EDITOR: — On  the  22d  inst.  our  Brigade  (which  is 
called  the  "Flying  Brigade"  by  General  Logan)  received 
inarching  orders  to  go  aboard  the  boats  immediately,  having 
three  days'  rations  in  our  haversacks.  All  were  conjectur 
ing  as  to  our  destination,  some  saying  we  were  going  up  the 
river  and  others  down. 

But  it  soon  became  known  which  route  we  were  to  take. 
As  is  usual,  it  commenced  to  rain  before  we  got  on  the 
boats,  making  it  very  unpleasant  as  well  as  disagreeable  for 
ua,  for  the  hurricane  deck  is  always  the  most  desirable  place 
on  the  boat  in  good  weather.  The  Seventy-Eighth  (of 
course)  was  the  last  regiment  on  board;  seven  companies 
going  on  the  Gladiator,  with  the  Brigade  headquarters, 
while  the  other  three,  with  the  artillery,  went  on  the  latan, 
the  Twentieth  and  Sixty-Eighth  on  the  Louisiana,  and  the 
Thirtieth  Illinois  on  the  Fanny  Ogdcn, 

Darkness  was  upon  us  before  we  got  started,  and  most  of 
us*  were  wrapped  in  nature's  sleep,  not  knowing  which  way 
we  wore  going  until  a  Little  after  daylight,  when  it  was 
found  we  were  making  a  binding  at  Eagle  Bend,  twenty 
miles  above  Vicksburg,  on  the  Mississippi  side.  It  wras 
rtoon  ascertained  that  the  object  of  our  mission  wan  to  rein 
force  General  -Sherman,  who  had  started  from  that  point  a 
.few  days  before  to  make  his  way  across  to  the  Yazoo  river 
to  operate  iu  the  .rear  of  Vicksburg.  Should  lie  jieed  rein 
forcements  we  were  to  be  there  in  readiness  for  him. 

We  remained  on  the  boats  until  the  morning  of  .the  25th,. 
>vJben  we  went  into  camp  about  a  mile  back  of  .the  liver, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0.    V.  V.   I.  229 

Kendi?ig  the  sick  and  everything  pertaining-  to  onr  carnp 
equipage  hack  to  our  old  camp,  taking  nothing  with  us  but 
our  knapsacks,  dog-tents,  camp  kettles,  and  a  few  mess  pans. 
The  roads  were  utterly  impassable  for  teams,  not  even  a 
horse  being  able  to  get  along,  and  consequently  the  artillery 
was  sent  back  also.  Should  we  be  needed  it  was  said  we 
would  have  hard  times  getting  along,  and  it  was  best  not  to 
take  anything  but  what  would  be  really  necessary. 

Xo  troops  were  at  this  point  except  a  few  "pioneers,'' 
who  were  building  up  the  road.  A  stream  of  water  came 
in  here  from  the  river,  forming  a  bayou,  upon  which  were 
steam  tugs  plying  to  and  fro,  assisting  General  Sherman  in 
his  undertaking.  "We  expected  to  remain  there  two  or 
three  days,  and  commenced  building  houses  out  of  a  sort 
of  willow ;  but  orders  came  that  night  for  us  to  return  to 
our  Division  again.  The  Thirtieth  Illinois  started  back 
about  midnight,  there  being  no  transportation  for  the  other 
regiments  at  that  time,  we  having  to  wait  until  the  boats 
could  come  down  after  us. 

Before  leaving  we  heard  that  Sherman's  forces  were  com 
ing  back  again,  being  unable  to  accomplish  their  purpose. 
It  was  reported  that  the  rebels  were  felling  timber  into  the 
bayou  faster  than  he  could  take  it  out ;  and  while  doing  sd* 
lie  took  live  hundred  prisoners,  coming  upon  them  una 
wares,  capturing  arms  and  equipments.  Whether  these 
reports  arc  true,  I  am  unable  to  say. 

The  next  morning  everything  was  packed  up  early, 
expecting  to  get  orders  to  go  at  any  time,  but  we  had  to 
remain  until  3  o'clock  before  our  boats  arrived,  when  we 
skedaddled  to  the  river  and  were  off  in  a  little  while,  the 
Seventy-Eighth  being  aboard  the  Fanny  Ogden,  and  the 
Twentieth  and  Sixty-Eighth  on  the  Gladiator,  getting  back 
to  our  old  camp  on  "Vista  Plantation,"  near  Perry's  Land 
ing,  and  about  five  miles  above  Lake  Providence,  about 
dark. 

Our  things,  when  they  were  sent  back,  were  piled  up  and 
no  care  taken  of  them  at  all,  and  when  we  came  into  camp 


230  HISTORY   OF   THE 

all  were  anxious  to  get  their  things  and  put  up  the  tents; 
hut  in  hunting  around  they  accidentally  fell  upon  a  lot  of 
sanitary  stores  that  were  unguarded,  and  thinking  they 
were  sutler  goods  waded  in  and  demolished  the  contents., 
which  consisted  of  spirits,  drawers,  potatoes,  fish,  liquors., 
etc.  Consequently,  the  next  morning  a  search  was  made, 
and  those  found  having  any  of  the  articles  were  taken  up 
to  headquarters  and  put  under  arrest.  It  seems  hard  that 
the  hoys  have  got  to  suffer  for  the  negligence  of  the  officers  ; 
hut  they  might  as  well  cat  up  such  things  as  to  leave  them 
for  the  officers,  for  there  is  generally  where  such  tilings  go. 
"While  we  were  gone,  all  our  bedding  was  carried  off  by 
other  regiments,  and  a  cotton  gin  and  some  other  "buildings 
being  handy,  the  next  morning  the  boys  determined  to  have 
some  boards  to  sleep  on,  and  commenced  to  break  for  the 
scene  of  operations,  delegations  being  on  hand  from  the 
three  Ohio  regiments  (the  Thirtieth  Illinois  being  supplied 
before  we  came,)  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  boards  and 
shingles  began  to  fly  thick  and  fast,  and  persons  were  com 
ing  back  with  arm  loads.  While  this  was  going  on  some 
person  slipped  into  the  gin  and  set  it  on  fire,  which  soon 
reduced  it  to  ashes.  This  brought  out  General  Logan,  who 
commenced  pouring  out  his  wrath  on  the  "Flying  Brigade," 
and  it  was  not  long  before  orders  were  issued  compelling 
all  who  had  got  shingles  and  hoards  at  these  buildings  to 
take  them  up  to  our  regimental  headquarters.  Company 
E  was  well  represented,  myself  being  one  of  the  number, 
for  we  are  never  slow  in  such  undertakings.  That  being 
done,  each  had  to  give  in  his  name,  when  we  were  all 
sent  up  to  Logan's  headquarters,  taking  our  boards  and 
shingles  with  us,  whooping  and  yelling  like  mad.  But  we 
had  hardly  got  up  there  when  we  were  ordered  to  pile 
them  up  separately,  iincl  go  to  our  quarters ;  but  shortly 
after  we  were  told  to  go  up  and  get  our  lumber,  when  lo  !  it 
was  found  that  the  boards  were  measured,  the  shingles 
counted,  and  each  man's  pile  taken  account  of.  There  was 
a  good  deal  of  sport  made  of  it,  and  every  company  had  to 
share  it. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  231 

Since  then  General  Logan  ordered  General  Leggett  to 
assess  the  amount  of  property  destroyed,  and  tax  the 
officers  and  men  of  his  Brigade  with  it,  and  have  it  put 
upon  the  next  muster  rolls,  so  it  can  be  deducted  from  their 
pay,  but  to  exempt  all  regiments  whom  he  knew  not  to  be 
guilty.  Accordingly  the  assessment  was  made,  which  was 
put  at  §2,000,  and  is  to  come  off  the  three  Ohio  regiments, 
the  Suckers  all  being  exempt. 

It  is  now  the  principal  gossip  of  the  regiments,  and  if  they 
are  to  pay  for  the  destruction  of  property  done  by  some 
unknown  person,  it  will  be  apt  to  raise  a  "muss,"  and  cause 
them  to  destroy  much  more  than  they  otherwise  would 
have  done ;  and  it  is  believed  by  most  of  those  who  were 
there  at  the  time,  that  it*  was  burned  by  the  old  secesh 
himself,  for  he  was  there  and  was  heard  to  say,  wheii  they 
commenced  tearing  down  the  old  gin,  "  that  the  boards  on 
that  building  wouldn't  do  them  much  good,"  and  imme 
diately  started  towards  it ;  and  in  fifteen  minutes  time  it  was 
in  flames.  I  mention  this  just  for  the  purpose  of  showing 
what  injustice  is  practised  upon  the  soldiers  in  the  army. 
The  leaders  can  order  the  levee  to  be  cut  and  millions  of 
property  may  be  destroyed  by  it,  but  if  any  property  is 
burned,  and  it  can  be  traced  to  the  soldiers,  they  have  got 
to  pay  for  it,  and  the  proceeds  pocketed  by  some  one  just 
honest  enough  to  keep  it.  Such  doings  as  that  won't  win, 
and  it  is  time  it  was  stopped.  If  all  rebel  property  was 
destroyed  as  soon  as  we  came  to  it,  this  war  would  be  ended 
much  sooner  than  it  will  be  the  way  things  are  carried  on 
now. 

I  The  Ohio  boys  of  the  Second  Brigade  are  always  able  to 
"  hold  their  own,"  and  the  title  of  "jayhawkers"  has  been 
given  them  by  General  Logan,  who  says  he  believes  if  they 
were  put  in  front  of  Vicksburg  they  would  have  it  torn 
down  and  be  sleeping  over  it  in  less  than  three  days. 

Since  I  last  wrote  you  the  weather  has  undergone  quite  a 
change.  Last  night  a  regular  old  "nor'-wester"  came 
upon  us,  preceded  by  rain,  which  knocked  the  tents  in 


HISTORY   OF  THE 

every  direction,  and  Lad  the  boys  up  at  work  with  hatchets 
aod  axes,  staking  down  their  houses  for  fear  of  having  them 
carried  away.  The  officers'  quarters  of  Company  E  were 
among  the  unfortunate. 

Boats  continue  to  pass  here  daily  loaded  with  soldiers, 
going  both,  up  and  down  the  river.  We  had  reports  yester 
day  that  a  part  of  Logan's  Division  was  to  leave  to-day  for 
some  point  up  the  river  ;  if  it  is  so  it  will  not  likely  be  the 
•"  Flying  Brigade  "  this  time.  We  are  in  perfect  ignorance 
as  to  what  is  going  on7  for  we  are  unable  to  get  any  news 
at  all,  and  our  letters  are  generally  about  two  weeks  old 
before  we  get  them.  Yours  truly,  TYPO. 


The  Lake  Providence  expedition  being  abandoned,  an 
effort  was  made  to  gain  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  by  the  Yazoo 
Pass,  which  also  failed,  after  almost  incredible  labor  and 
hardships.  Many  boats  in  attempting  this  were  seriously 
damaged,  and  wTere  compelled  to  go  North  for  repairs.  The 
rebels  defeated  the  success  of  the  expedition  by  felling 
timber  in  the  main  channel  ;  which  obstructions  our  forces 
removed  in  part,  but  finding  it  impracticable  abandoned  the 
effort  xand  all  the  troops  returned  to  Sherman's  Landing., 
but  nothing  disheartened. 

Sherman's  great  canal,  intending  to  change  the  channel 
of  the  Mississippi  river,  also  proved  a  failure.  The  only 
way  left  to  gain  the  rear  of  Yicksburg  was  to  run  the  block 
ade  with  a  sufficient  number  of  boats  to  supply  and  transport 
the  army  across  the  river  below  Grand  Gulf.  General 
Logan's  Division  was  called  upon  to  furnish  volunteers  to 
attempt  the  hazardous  undertaking.  The  following  mei» 
volunteered  from  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  :  Captain  Hugh 
Dunne,  second  in  command  of  steamer  J.  "W.  Cheeseman  ; 
Sergeant  James  McLaughlin,  Company  D,  engineer  o& 
Empire  City;  Corporal  Henry  Baugus,  Company  B; 
Henry  H.  Smith,  Company  F  ;  Alexander  White,  Company 
F;  Burke  Clark,  Company  D;  Abel  Arter,  Company  D; 
Daniel  Christman,  Company  E. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  283 

Six  boats  were  put  in  readiness,  and  about  midnight, 
started.  The  first  passed  part  of  the  batteries  before  the 
rebels  got  aroused;  soon  the  batteries  opened,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery,  which  lined 
the  shore  for  about  seven  miles  in  extent,  broke  forth  in  the 
most  awful  grandeur,  which  lit  up  the  heavens  and  seemed 
to  shake  the  very  pillars  of  the  universe.  Nothing  but  the 
interposition  of  a  prospering  Providence  saved  the  boats, 
which  wero  all  more  or  less  injured,  in  successfully  passing 
the  batteries. 

The  whole  army,  then  fifty-five  thousand  strong,  set  out 
upon  its  march  to  Bruinburg,  below  Grand  Gulf,  where-  it 
crossed  the  river,  fought  five  successive  battles,  and  drove 
an  enemy  outnumbering  the  Union  army,  into  the  walls  *>f 
Vicksburg. 

The  following  letters  were  written  by  Surgeon  1  Jeeves 
and  the  author,  which  give  a  correct  history  of  the 
regiment  and  its  operations : 

The  gallant  army  under  General  Grant  has  just  obtained 
a-  glorious  victory  —  a  victory  which  fully  justifies  the  confi- 
iidence  their  commander  seems  to  have  felt  when  he  entered 
upon  the  daring  campaign  to  Vicksburg  by  the  way  of 
Grand  Gulf  and  Jackson. 

Yesterday  morning  the  position  of  our  army  was  briefly 
this:  Part  of  Sherman's  Corps  occupied  Jackson  —  the 
particulars  of  the  capture  of  that  town  you  have  already 
learned.  The  larger  part  of  McPherson's  Corps  lay  at  the 
same  place.  McClernand's  was  two  miles  south  of  Bolton, 
and  sixteen  miles  west  of  Jackson,  while  Ransom's  Brigade 
of  Me  Arthur's  Division,  (McPherson's  Corps)  and  Blair's 
Division  of  Sherman's  Corps  were  approaching  Raymond 
on  their  march  from  Grand  Gulf.  The  little  town  of  Ray 
mond  lies  eight  miles  south  of  Bolton,  and  about  twenty 
south-west  from  Jackson. 

The  enemy  had  massed  his  forces  at  Edward's  Station, 
nineteen  miles  east  of  Vicksburg  on  the  railroad,  with  the 
intent  to  cut  our  long  lines  somewhere  between  Raymond 


284  HISTORY   OF   THE 

and  Bolton,  and  thus  at  onco  deprive  us  of  supplies  and 
beat  us  in  detail.  But  his  designs  wore  discovered  and 
splendidly  defeated. 

Yesterday  morning  news  came  to  General  McClernand 
that  the  enemy  were  advancing  on  him  from  the  north-west 
in  the  manner  just  indicated,  and  he  immediately  ordered 
General  A.  L.  Lee,  who  had  that  moment  arrived  and 
reported  for  duty  in  the  Thirteenth  Army  Corps,  to  recon- 
noiter  the  approach.  With  a  squad  of  cavalry  General  Loo 
galloped  oil'  live  or  six  miles  toward  Edward's  Station, 
scoured  the  country  to  and  fro,  discovered  the  enemy's 
pickets  in  that  direction,  and  returned  with  a  map  of  the 
ground  over  which  the  battle  was  next  day  to  be  fought. 

In  the  meantime  General  McPherson's  command  moved 
rapidly  down  from  Jackson  and  arrived  toward  nightfall 
near  Bolton,  while  Ransom's  Brigade  and  Blair's  Division 
reached  Raymond.  Thus  our  widely  extended  front  was 
suddenly  closed -on  the  center,  in  such  a  way  as  to  be  ready 
for  either  attack  or  defense.  At  the  same  time  General 
Sherman  moved  from  Jackson  north  of  the  railroad  toward 
Edward's  Station,  in  such  course  as  to  keep  within  support 
ing  distance,  and  to  prevent  the  rebel  force  under  Joe 
Johnston  (driven  northward  out  of  Jackson)  from  making 
a  junction  with  their  friends  at  Edward's  Station. 

At  daylight  this  morning  our  movement  toward 
Edward's  Station  began.  Ilovey's  Division  of  McClernand'" s 
Corps,  followed  by  McPherson  on  the  right,  and  advancing 
on  the  road  from  Bolton  ;  Osterhaus'  Division,  followed  by 
General  Carr's,  on  the  center;  and  Smith's  Division,  with 
General  Blair's  as  a  reserve,  on  the  left,  by  the  first  road 
from  Raymond  to  Edward's  Station. 

The  battle  opened  on  the  left  about  8  o'clock,  with 
artillery  directed  on  Smith's  advance.  It  seemed  that  the  rebels 
were  attempting  to  turn  our  left,  and  get  in  our  rear  in  the 
direction  of  Raymond.  But  Smith  held  his  road  firmly, 
and  the  enemy  slowly  retired,  while  we  slowly  advanced. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.   V.    V.   I.  235 

The  enemy  next  massed  his  forces  on  our  right  center, 
where  Hovey's  Division  was  coming  up,  and  here  the  battle 
began  to  rage  in  deadly  earnest.  For  a  time  the  result 
seemed  doubtful ;  the  rebels  pressed  on  in  the  most  deter 
mined  manner,  while  llovey's  brave  boys  returned  their 
attacks  with  the  most  persistent  valor.  For  a  moment  we 
gave  back  at  that  point,  but  Hovey,  being  reinforced  by 
two  Brigades  of  Crocker's  Division,  the  enemy  were  driven, 
and  the  day  went  in  our  favor.  A  portion  of  the  rebel 
force  began  tiieir  retreat  by  the  Yicksburg  road. 
McPherson  swung  around  his  right,  and  cut  off  and  cap 
tured  about  fifteen  hundred  prisoners,  and  a  battery  of  ten 
guns.  Our  left,  McClernand's  Corps  and  Blair's  Division, 
and  Hansom's  Brigade  now  pressed  forward,  and  the  com 
plete  defeat  and  demoralization  of  the  enemy  was  assured. 
Oar  artillery  was  hastened  forward  from  point  to  point, 
over  the  numberless  hills  of  this  most  rugged  country,  and 
poured  its  deadly  fire  into  the  flying  columns  of  the  rebels. 
At  sunset,  as  we  entered  Edward's  Station,  we  found 
there  a  great  debris  of  stores  abandoned  by  the  enemy  in 
his  flight  —  among  them  a  train  of  cars  loaded  with  ammu 
nition  and  set  on  lire,  and  a  depot  of  provisions  also  partly 
consumed.  We  managed  to  save  from  these  ninety 
thousand  rounds  of  musket  ammunition,  a  large  quantity  of 
fixed  ammunition  for  field  pieces,  and  a  good  supply  of  sugar.. 

Our  captures  in  this  splendid  fight  foot  up  to  about  two 
thousand  eight  hundred  prisoners,  nineteen  guns,  and  about 
ten  thousand  serviceable  Enfield  rifles,  together  wtih  all  the 
stores  I  have  mentioned. 

THE  BATTLE  OF  THE  BIG  BLACK. 

AT  THE  BRIDGE,  MAY  17.  —  At  daylight  this  morning  our 
victorious  army  moved  on  from  Edward's  Station,  by  the 
main  road  to  the  Big  Black,  McClernand's  Corps  in  the 
advance,  led  by  Carr's  Division.  It  was  known  that  the 
rebels  had  constructed  earthworks  to  defend  the  bridge, 
and  that  these  works  must  be  taken.  The  distance  was 
but  three  miles,  and  we  had  hardly  advanced  one  before 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE 

the  skirmishing*  in  front  commenced.  The  enemy  slowly 
retired,  and  we  pressed  on  until  we  reached  a  point  about- 
one  mile  from  the  river,  when  the  rehel  batteries,  some 
eighteen  guns,  opened  on  us.  They  had  a  good  range  of 
the  road,  and  the  shells  Hew  and  burst  about  us  in  lively 
style. 

Carr  immediately  formed  in  line  of  battle  and  advanced 
on  the  center  and  right,  with  half  of  Osterhaus'  Division 
on  the  extreme  right  and  half  OH  the  left.  Smith's  Division 
came  rapidly  up  and  formed  on  the  extreme  left. 

The  action  had  hardly  began  when  the  gallant  Osterhaus 
was  slightly  wounded,  while  busy  in  getting  the  First  Wis 
consin  Battery  in  position  on  the  left  center.  Captain 
Foster,  commanding  the  battery,  was  at  the  same  time 
hurt  —  a  case  shot  bursting  among  the  party,  and  both  were 
obliged  to  leave  the  field.  General  MeClernand  immedi 
ately  ordered  General  A.  L.  Lee  to  take  command  of  the 
Xinth  Division,  and  the  battle  began.  It  was  soon  termi 
nated.  After  an  artillery  duel  of  an  hour  or  so,  varied 
with  some  sharp  skirmishing,  General  Carr's  Division,  with 
the  portion  of  Lee's  which  was  on  the  right,  made  a  gallant 
charge  upon  a  weak  spot  on  the  enemy's  left,  and  took  the 
works.  So  suddenly  and  effectively  was  this  done  that  the 
whole  of  Bowen's  Brigade  was  cut  off  and  captured,  while 
our  left,  advancing  at  the  same  time,  took  two  regiments 
of  rebels  who  were  trying  to  escape  down  the  swamp  and 
across  the  river  in  that  direction.  Every  gun  in  the  works 
was  taken — in  all  eighteen  —  and  the  number  of  prisoners 
amounted  to  about  tliree  thousand.  The  haste  with  which 
the  surrender  was  made  was  something  ludicrous.  The 
moment  our  charge  began  on  the  right  fifty  white  nags 
appeared  behind  the  works,  extemporised  by  hoisting 
bunches  of  cotton  on  the  end  of  bayonets.  Alas !  that  the 
regal  fiber  should  fulfill  so  meek  a  mission !  "We  immedi 
ately  advanced  up  to  the  captured  works,  and,  planting  a 
section  of  heavy  guns  near  the  river,  began  to  shell  the 
rebels  who  had  got  across  it,  and  had  burned  the  bridge 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   T.   V.   I.  237 

which  took  them  over,  as  well  as  set  fire  to  the  immense 
railroad  bridge  and  trestle  work. 

The  enemy  left  a  regiment  of  sharpshooters  on  the  west 
hank  of  the  river  to  annoy  us  and  delay  our  crossing,  but 
General  Lee,  with  a  pioneer  corps  and  a  company  of  skir 
mishers,  protected  by  the  lire  of  Lamphears  Seventh 
Michigan  Battery,  recoimoitercd  the  b^nk,  and  commenced 
the  construction  of  a  floating  bridge.  At  9  o'clock 
to-morrow  it  will  be  completed,  aiid  we  shall  move  for 
ward. 

Meantime  Sherman's  Corps  is  crossing  on  pontoons 
.above,  and  will  go  to  Yicksburg  by  the  upper  road  toward 
Raines'  Bluff,  while  McClernand  and  MePherson  will  move 
on  the  Jackson  road. 

Our  losses  in  the  battle  of  yesterday  were  heavy  —  prob 
ably  three  hundred  killed,  and  the  usual  sad  proportion  of 
wounded.  Pemberton  was  in  command  of  the  rebel  force. 
Major  General  Tilghman  was  killed.  In  the  battle  to-dny 
our  losses  were  but  slight  —  our  captures  immoderately 
large. 

THREE  MILES  IN  REAR  or  YICKSBURG,  ) 
May  20,  1863.     / 

On  the  18th  our  army  crossed  the  Big  Black  and  inarched 
OH  Yicksburg,  Sherman  coming  in  and  taking  possession 
of  Haines'  Bluff,  MePherson  arriving  on  the  Jackson  road, 
and  McClernand  advancing  toward  the  close  of  his  march 
on  the  road  to  Baldwin's  Ferry. 

Yesterday  morning  General  Grant  began  to  "  move  upon 
the  enemy's  works,"  —  a  line  of  redoubts  extending  from 
the  rear  of  Haines  Bluff  to  the  Warrenton  road,  a  distance 
of  eight  or  ten  miles. 

The  attack  was  made  with  Sherman  on  the  right, 
MePherson  extended  from  his  left  to  the  railroad,  and 
McClernand  from  his  left  on  the  railroad  to  the  extreme 
Jo  ft.  At  daylight  our  troops  moved  up,  but  the  action  did 
.not  begin  until  about  noon,  savo  an  occasional  shot  from 
•our  artillery  as  it  came  within  range. 


238  HISTORY    OF  THK 

After  a  slow  fire  from  our  artillery  had  failed  to  elicit  any 
reply  from  the  rebel  works,  our  lines  slowly  advanced  until 
at  every  point  they  were  in  front  hardly  one  thousand  yards 
from  the  redoubts.  The  ground  over  which  we  crossed  in 
this  movement  was  singularly  rough,  a  series  of  hills  and 
hollows,  not  high  but  steep.  As  we  neared  the  hostile 
redoubts  we  found  that  they  commanded  every  crest  and 
swept  every  ravine.  Yet  at  2  o'clock  a  general  charge  was 
ordered. 

About  the  same  success  —  or  want  of  success  —  attended 
the  charge  along  the  whole  line.  TVre  have  up  to  this  time 
advanced  so  close  to  the  enemy's  works  that  he  cannot 
safely  use  his  guns,  and  our  heavier  artillery  is  being  pushed 
up  and  planted  in  such  a  way  that  I  trust  to-morrow  will 
soe  some  good  results.  Communication  is  open  to  the 
Yazoo  by  way  of  llaines'  Bluff,  and  supplies  now  come  to 
us  from  the  upper  river. 

As  I  write,  the  slow  and  sullen  booming  of  the  gunboats 
both  above  and  below,  show  that  they  too  are  joining  in 
the  great  fight.  The  situation  grows  dramatic  and  solemn, 
and  the  end  is  near  at  hand. 

IN  REAR  OF  VICKSBURG,  May  21. 

The  stronghold  of  the  rebel  power  on  the  Mississippi  is 
now  completely  invested  by  the  army  of  General  Grant. 
The  fragments  of  the  insurgent  forces  which  escaped  from 
the  victories  of  Port  Hudson,  of  Jackson,  of  Champion  or 
Midway  Hills,  and  of  Big  Black,  have  retired  within  the 
strong  but  small  circle  of  defenses  which  surround  the  city, 
at  a  distance  of  about  two  miles  from  the  heart.  There 
a  stubborn  resistance  is  now  being  made,  the  redoubts  and 
rifle-pits  giving  the  rebels  an  advantage  in  the  way  of  safety, 
but  none,  I  think,  in  the  way  of  moral  strength.  Pre 
sumptively  the  advantage  is  with  the  attacking  party,  and 
especially  in  this  case,  where  our  army,  since  its  bold  move 
from  Young's  Point,  by  the  way  of  Grand  Gulf,  has  been 
uniformly  and  brilliantly  successful. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.  V.    V.    I.  230 

To-dny  our  forces  are  busy  from  right  to  left,  over  the 
entire  line,  in  creeping  more  closely  to  the  formidable 
works  of  the  enemy.  At  several  points  our  sharpshooters 
are  so  near  the  redoubts,  and  so  well  sheltered  by  the 
remarkably  rough  ground,  that  they  totally  prevent  tho 
enemy  from  using  his  guns.  They  are  near  enough  too,  to 
indulge  in  jocose  conversation  with  the  rebels  in  their  rifle- 
pits. 

At  the  same  time  our  heavier  artillery  is  being  pushed 
up  slowly  in  such  a  way  as  to  bear  effectually  on  the 
enemy's  works.  The  ground  is  such  that  the  hills  occupied 
by  us  are  just  about  as  convenient  and  commanding  as 
those  occupied  by  them.  What  works  they  have  within 
the  line  we  arc  now  attacking,  is  not  certainly  known 
but  they  cannot  be  extensive,  for  their  present  line  is  quite 
near  the  city.  If  the  rebels  retire  from  their  present 
position,  they  subject  the  city  to  destruction. 

Below  and  above  Yicksburg  our  mortar  fleet  is  grumbling 
and  thundering,  very  slowly  but  steadily,  and  we  can  see 
the  huge  shells  bursting  over  the  town.  A  warm  place  to 
live  in  now. 

Ix  REAR  OF  VICKSBURG,  May  22. 

To-day  a  general  charge  upon  the  enemy's  works  was 
ordered  and  made,  though  I  cannot  yet  learn  that  at  any 
point  the  works  were  completely  carried.  The  singularly 
rough  nature  of  the  ground  makes  it  almost  impossible  to 
tell  what  we  have  to  encounter,  and  rapidly  fatigues  the 
men.  But  wo  advance  in  this  way  steadily,  and  at  each 
•harge  our  sharpshooters  obtain  a  better  position  for  their 
peratipns.  Our  artillery  hastens  to  get  better  position, 
small  intrenchmcnts  being  thrown  up  to  protect  it;  and 
thus  wo  have  the  curious  spectacle  of  hostile  redoubts 
already  frowning  upon  each  other,  at  a  distance  of  but  a 
few  hundred  yards. 

The  guns  of  the  rebels  reply  to  our  shelling  but  seldom. 
They  are  evidently  husbanding  their  ammunition,  for  they 
can  now  get  no  further  supply.  Their  redoubts  are  con- 


240  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Ktructed  for  field  guns,  and  within  the  last  three  weeks 
Grant  has  captured  about  seventy  of  these. 

In  the  meantime  we  have  a  new  base  of  supplies  from 
the  Yazoo,  through  which  reinforcements,  provisions, 
ammunition  and  heavy  guns  can  be  sent  as  rapidly  as  we 
please. 

The  rebel  force  within  Yicksburg  cannot  now  be  more 
than  twenty  thousand.  Before  the  fight  at  Jackson,  they 
may  have  had  forty-five  thousand,  but  part  of  that  number 
we  forced  up  northward  toward  Canton  — say  ten  thousand. 
At  the  battle  of  Midway  Hills,  (or  Champion  Hills,)  on  the 
10th  instant,  their  effective  force  was  perhaps  thirty-five 
thousand  men.  Of  these  at  least  ten  thousand  were  killed, 
wounded  or  captured,  or  driven  to  escape  northwaM  or 
southward,  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  them  from  returning 
to  Yicksburg.  At  the  light  on  Big  Black,  on  the  17th, 
we  captured  nearly  three  thousand,  and  scattered  many 
more  in  such  a  way  that  they  are  more  likely  to  have 
straggled  home  through  the  woods  than  to  have  reported 
for  duty. 

LATER. 

I  have  arrived  at  the  Yazoo,  near  Chiekasaw  Bayou, 
alter  riding  from  the  extreme  left  of  our  army.  Of  course 
nunorts  are  plenty  of  the  operations  of  to-day.  One  is  that 
our  mortars  and  gunboats  have  silenced  two  of  the  upper 
w liter  batteries,  and  that  vessels  now  pass  Yicksburg  with 
out  being  fired  on.  Another  is  that  in  the  attempted  charge 
of  to-day  the  Thirty-First  Illinois  got  up  to.  the  enemy's 
works,  and  there  found  a  stockade  so  high  that  they  could 
not  scale  it,  and  so  they  stopped  and  lay  down  under  it, 
unable  to  go  farther,  yet  protected  from  the  enemy's  fire. 
At  this  moment  a  rebel  redoubt  on  the  left  tried  to  get  a 
raking  fire  on  them,  when  our  artillery,  concentrating  its 
shots  upon  the  redoubt,  suddenly  battered  it  to  silence- 
knocking  one  of  its  °*un8  some  thirty  feet  into  the  air. 


THE    SIEGE   OF   YICKSBURG. 

THE  SEVENTY-EIGHTH  OHIO  ENGAGED  —  CONDITION  OF  THK 
WOUNDED  —  -INTERESTING  SCENES  AND  INCIDENTS  DURING 
THE  SIEGE* 

BATTLE-FIELD,  ix  REAR  OF 


June  1,1860.  / 
The  regiment  at  present  lias  gone  with  others  on  a  scout 
after  General  Joe  Johnston,  who  is  reported  to  be  gathering 
a  force  in  our  rear,  but  up  to  Saturday  they  had  seen 
nothing-  of  him.  He  was  not  at  the  point  reported  to  our 
men.  Our  forces,  we  understand,  were  pushing  on  toward 
Yazoo  City,  to  capture  a  small  force  of  rebels  reported 
there,  and  also  to  take  their  fleet  of  transports  and  stores 
at  that  place.  We  look  for  the  return  of  the  regiment  in  a 
day  or  two*  They  are  very  anxious  to  meet  Johnston's 
force. 

Xone  of  those  wounded  of  Company  E  have  died,  hut 
are  getting  along  well,  far  beyond  the  Surgeon's  expec 
tations.  Beisakcr,  "VVeller,  Ilassell  and  llussell,  arc  still 
back  in  the  hospital  at  Champion  Hills;  they  will  be 
brought  to  the  hospital  here  in  a  few  days.  Nearly  all  the 
wounded  and  sick  at  llaymond  and  Champion  Hills  have 
been  paroled  by  the  rebel  guerillas.  They  paroled  some 
who  died  the  same  day.  They  paroled  our  nurses  waiting 
upon  the  secesh  wounded,  and  took  some  of  them  to 

Jackson  as  prisoners;  and  when   our   forces   had    left   in 
16 


242  HISTORY   OF   TEE 

pursuit  of  the  enemy,  the  guerrillas  captured  the  few 
ambulances  detailed  to  carry  the  rebel  wounded  to  the 
hospital,  and  drove  them  off,  leaving  their  own  wounded 
lying  upon  the  field  of  battle.  I  wonder  if  the  generous 
sympathisers  in  the  Korth  will  approve  this  act  of  humane 
generosity. 

I  spent  part  of  the  day  yesterday  in  our  Division  hos 
pital.  About  three  hundred  wounded  are  there,  all  doing 
well  under  the  skillful  management  of  Surgeon  Reeves, 
and  others.  Several  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  boys  are 
there.  A  visit  to  one  of  these  hospitals  impresses  us  deeply 
with  the  sad  effects  of  war,  and  the  dread  results  of  an 
engagement  in  battle.  Every  description  of  wounds  are 
seen.  The  loss  of  limbs,  to  me,  seems  the  greatest,  and  the 
most  to  be  regretted.  It  is  surprising  to  see  how  cheerful 
the  wounded  arc.  How  patient,  submissive  and  grateful. 
The  scene  impresses  a  bystander  with  the  deepest  feelings 
of  sadness. 

The  Adjutant  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  —  II.  Abbott,  of 
Zanesville  —  I  presume  is  dead.  The  last  word  from  him 
was,  he  would  not  live  many  days.  He  was  shot  through 
the  neck,  also  breaking  his  skull. 

Our  men  ha\^e  had  a  hard  campaign  ;  for  more  than  two 
weeks  they  made  every  day  a  full  day's  march,  and  fought 
a  successful  battle  almost  every  day.  They  started  with 
five  days'  rations,  and  lived  upon  it  seventeen ;  of  course 
the  country  had  to  suffer,  especially  the  cellars,  smoke 
houses  and  poultry  yards.  They  also  destroyed  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  provisions  to  supply  our  army  for  months. 

Matters  about  Yicksburg  are  in  statu  quo.  The  rebel 
army  is  still  in  holes,  and  dare  not  come  out.  The  two 
armies  can  converse  with  each  other.  All  our  artillery  is 
planted  within  two  hundred  yard*  of  their  forts.  It  is 
reported  by  deserters  that  the  citizens  of  Yicksburg  pre 
sented  General  Pemberton  a  petition  to  surrender ;  but  he 
replied  that  they  (the  citizens)  had  abused  him  by  circu 
lating  lies  upon  him,  aud  now  he  intended  to  hold  Vicks- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.  V.   I.  243 

burg  as  long  as  he  had  a  live  man.  The  city  is  nearly  all 
torn  to  pieces  by  our  mortar  fleet,  and  also  our  artillery  in 
the  rear.  The  women  and  children  are  in  caves  under  the 
ground ;  it  is  reported  that  many  of  them  have  been  killed. 
It  cannot  be  otherwise. 

All  their  mules  and  horses  have  been  killed,  and  they  are 
seen  throwing  them  into  the  river  every  night.  They 
attempted  to  drive  many  of  them  through  our  lines,  but 
our  artillery  opened  upon  them  and  killed  them  around  the 
forts,  and  they  dare  not  come  out  to  bury  them, 

General  Grant,  last  Sabbath  week,  ordered  all  the 
women  out  of  the  city ;  they  did  not  avail  themselves  of 
this  privilege ;  they  would  gladly  do  it  now,  but  Grant 
says  they  must  now  submit  to  their  fate,  and  help  eat  up 
the  stores  in  the  city.  This  seems  hard  but  it  is  just.. 
They  are  reaping  the  just  retribution  of  their  own  works. 
It  would  not  do  for  me  to  bo  General,  my  feelings  would 
lead  me  to  give  them  a  place  of  safety. 

One  morning  last  week  the  rebels  asked  a  cessation  of 
hostilities  for  two  and  a  half  hours.  It  was  granted ;  our 
men  went  up  to  the  fortifications,  and  the  rebels  stood  on 
top  of  the  forts,  when  mutual  conversation  took  place. 
Some  of  the  rebels  came  over  and  drank  coffee  with  our 
men.  Some  said  they  would  surrender  the  fort  for  a  cup 
of  coffee ;  one  took  the  names  of  some  of  the  Seventy- 
Eighth,  and  said,  "  When  you  take  us,  which  will  be 
before  long,  I  want  to  find  you."  One  private  in  the 
Thirtieth  Illinois,  of  our  Brigade,  met  in  the  fort>  his  own 
father  and  brother.  They  had  a  pleasant  interview :  the 
father  and  brother  did  not  wish  to  return,  but  asked  per 
mission  to  remain  as  prisoners.  The  ofBcers  of  the 
Thirtieth  sent  them  back,  refusing  to,  take  prisoners  while 
a  flag  of  truce  was  out.  They  said  they  would  desert  the 
first  opportunity. 

Over  six  thousand  prisoners  have  been  sent  JSTorth ;  some 
go  every  day.  A  great  many  are  deserting  to  our  gunboats 
upon  the  river.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  desert  to  our  side. 


244  HISTORY   OF  THB 

on  account  of  the  sharpshooters  on  hoth  sides.  These 
sharpshooters  are  picking  off  a  great  number  of  men.  We 
are  losing  some  fine  officers  in  this  way.  Last  week  the 
Captains  of  both  batteries  of  our  Brigade  fell  before  the 
concealed  sharpshooters.  Captain  Kodgers,  of  McCalister's 
Ohio  Battery  wae  killed  instantly  on  Friday  morning. 
Captain  DeGalyer,  on  Thursday  evening,  was  mortally 
wounded.  These  were  the  most  efficient  officers  of  our 
Division. 

How  long  this  siege  may  continue  I  presume  will  depend 
upon  the  provision  stores  of  Yicksburg.  Some  deserters 
report  that  the  soldiers  say  they  will  kill  Pemberton  if  he 
does  not  surrender  in  a  few  days.  It  is  to  be  hoped  they 
will  yield  in  a  few  days.  ~\\re  could  take  the  forts  by  storm, 
but  it  would  be  too  great  u  sacrifice.  "We  have  got  the 
animal  caged,  but  dare  not  enter  the  cage. 

The  health  of  our  army  is  good.  Its  energy  and  life 
unsurpassed :  its  courage  and  determination  desperate. 
The  army  with  its  present  spirit  could  successfully  meet 
three  times  its  number. 

THE  SEVENTY-EIGH1H    OHIO   AT    VICKSBUEG  —  FULL   LIST    OF   THE 
CASUALTIES  AS  REPORTED   BY   SURGEON   REEVES. 

IN  THE  FIELD,  YICKSBURG,  Miss.,  FIELD  HOSPITAL,  ^ 
THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVENTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS,      > 

May  20, 1863.         j 
JAMES  A.  ADAIR  : 

Dear  Sir — The  stirring  events  of  the  past  month  have  so 
rapidly  followed  each  other,  and  so  slight  have  been  the 
opportunities  for  writing,  that  I  have  been  unable  to  make 
a  report  to  you,  such  as  I  felt  it  my  duty  to  make. 

On  the  25th  of  April  we  left  Milliken's  Bend,  Louisiana, 
as  a  part  of  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and  marched 
over  a  military  road  which  General  Grant  had  caused  to  be 
made,  passed  through  Richmond  and  along  Eoundaway 
Bayou  to  Lake  St.  Joseph,  around  which  we  passed,  and 
reached  Perkin's  Landing,  on  the  Mississippi  Eiver,  on  the 
28th.  The  next  morning  we  continued  our  march  to  Hard- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    T.    V.    I.  245 

times  Landing,  where  transports  and  gunboats  awaited  us, 
idiich  took  us  down  the  river  about  ten  miles,  and  we 
debarked  and  stacked  arms  in  Mississippi.  From  that 
point  we  took  up  our  line  of  march  along  the  Port  ^Gibson 
road.  The  Seventy-Eighth  was  detailed  to  act  as  rear 
guard  to  the  column  on  that  day,  and  was  the  last  to  come 
up  for  the  bivouac  at  night. 

General  Crocker's  Division  was  in  advance,  and  when  in 
the  vicinity  of  Magnolia  Church,  met  the  rebels,  under 
Generals  Bowen  and  Tracy,  nearly  five  thousand  strong, 
occupying  a  strong  position,  and  with  whom  they  became 
engaged,  at  2  o'clock  A.  M.,  on  May  1st.  The  battle  was 
fought  with  varying  success  by  that  Division,  until  12  M., 
when  General  Logan's  Division  came  up  on  the  double- 
quick  and  forced  the  rebels  from  their  position,  driving 
them  back  with  great  loss.  On  the  next  day  we  occupied 
Port  Gibson. 

The  country  is  broken,  and  presents  a  succession  of  ridges 
running  in  parallel  but  very  tortuous  lines,  with  deep 
ravines  intervening,  affording  natural  earthworks  in  great 
variety.  The  rebels  were  routed,  and  retreated  in  the  night 
toward  Jackson,  burning  the  bridges  over  Bayou  St.  Pierre 
and  several  other  streams. 

We  left  Port  Gibson  on  the  2d  of  May  and  marched 
toward  Yicksburg,  and  found  the  country  to  grow  better  as 
we  advanced.  "We  came  to  Little  Black  river  just  after  the 
enemy  had  crossed,  too  late  to  capture  them.  At  this  point 
the  Second  Brigade  had  the  advance,  and  was  shelled  by  a 
rebel  battery,  the  shells  bursting  over  and  around  the 
Seventy-Eighth  fiercely  for  a  short  time,  but  fortunately 
without  hurting  any  one. 

We  then  moved  toward  Clinton,  on  the  railroad  from 
Jackson  to  Yicksburg,  when,  within  four  miles  of  Raymond, 
we  met  the  enemy,  eight  thousand  strong.  General  Logan 
was  in  the  advance,  and  a  fierce  battle  ensued.  They  were 
again  routed  and  fled  toward  Jackson.  In  this  battle  the 
Seventy-Eighth  acted  a  prominent  part  and  suffered  loss. 


246  EISTOKY  or  THE 

Private  Oliver  Story,  of  Company  F,  was  mortally  wounded 
and  has  since  died;  Charles  Mason,  of  Company  D,  shot 
through  the  shoulder  severely;  Isaac  Drum,  Company  E, 
Wounded  in  the  head  slightly. 

We  moved  to  Clinton  and  occupied  the  town,  capturing 
a  quantity  of  clothing  and  army  stores,  tearing  up  the  rail 
road,  and  crippling  the  rebels  in  various  ways,  and  on  the 
next  day  went  toward  Jackson  and  again  met  the  enemy, 
who  had  taken  position  upon  the  grounds  of  a  planter. 
The  battle  was  short  and  decisive.  The  rebels  were  routed, 
leaving  their  killed  and  wounded  on  the  field.  Two  batte 
ries  were  captured.  Our  troops  immediately  occupied 
Jackson,  and  stacked  arms  on  the  "  sacred  soil "  of  "  King 
Jeff'."  So  rapid  had  been  our  march,  and  so  sharp  our 
fighting,  that  the  people,  deluded  by  the  misrepresentations 
of  the  lying  press  at  Jackson,  were  completely  surprised, 
and  they  made  a  stampede  that  would  put  to  blush  a  score 
of  Bull  Runs.  At  daylight  next  morning  General  Logan's 

Division  was  en  route  for  Yicksburg. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  of  May,  the  advance  of  our 
column  was  checked  by  the  enemy,  who  were  drawn  up  in 
line  of  battle  at  Champion  Hills,  four  miles  from  Black 
River.  Immediate  preparations  were  made  to  meet  them. 
The  engagement  commenced  on  the  left,  and  it  soon 
became  a  fierce  conflict  —  Hovey  and  Carr's  Divisions  being 
in  the  hottest  of  the  fight.  The  roads  at  this  point  were 
numerous,  all  converging  toward  Black  River  Bridge,  thus 
bringing  our  troops  nearer  to  each  other  as  we  advanced. 
The  battle  soon  involved  the  troops  on  the  right  of  the 
road,  and  Logan's  Division  became  engaged.  At  this  time 
the  Second  Brigade,  led  on  by  General  Leggett,  participated 
in  the  fight,  and  I  say  with  pride,  that  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment  went  into  battle  cool  and  determined,  stood  up 
under  a  heavy  fire  without  flinching,  and  acquitted  them 
selves  nobly.  Far  in  advance  of  the  line,  they  stood  out 
in  bold  relief,  and  forced  the  enemy  to  fall  back. 

For  three  hours  the  rebels  maintained  their  position, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   I.  247 

during  which  time  there  was  one  continuous  roar  of 
artillery  and  musketry.  A  brilliant  charge  was  then  made 
upon  a  battery  of  nine  guns,  and  it  was  taken ;  then  the 
rebel  line  began  to  waver,  was  broken  and  soon  commenced  a 
hasty  retreat.  They  fled  toward  the  bridge  about  which  so 
much  has  been  said  and  written,  and  were  crossing  pell- 
mell  as  fast  as  possible, [  when  night  enshrouded  the  scene 
and  quiet  reigned.  Ere  morning  dawned  upon  the  hills, 
Carr's  Division  fell  upon  the  retreating  enemy  and  cap 
tured  between  two  and  three  thousand  of  them,  and  seven 
teen  pieces  of  artillery* 

During  the  engagement  our  hospital  was  located  tempo 
rarily  in  the  woods  at  what  was  a  suitable  distance,  but  by 
a  series  of  maneuvers  batteries  were  planted  upon  the  ridge 
near  us,  and  as  the  wounded  were  not  yet  brought  in,  I  had 
ample  opportunity  to  witness  the  fight.  Our  troops  were 
in  the  open  field,  while  the  rebels  occupied  the  woods.  A 
single  gun  from  DeGalyer's  Battery  was  stationed  on  a  pro 
jecting  knob,  and  was  raking  the  enemy  terribly.  A  bat 
tery  of  six  guns  was  planted  just  under  the  edge  of  the 
ridge,  out  of  sight  of  the  rebels,  and  which  was  intended  to 
do  special  work.  The  Second  Brigade  was  at  this  time  in 
a  depression  in  the  field.  Presently  the  rebels  charged 
upon  the  solitary  gun,  swarming  like  bees  about  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  and  going  rapidly  toward  the  gun.  At  that 
moment  the  battery  opened  and  dropped  its  shells  with 
great  precision  right  among  the  rebels,  sending  living  and 
dead  in  every  direction— particularly  in  the  direction  of  the 
woods.  The  field  was  cleared,  and  the  gun  kept  thunder 
ing  away.  "When  the  rebels  retreated  our  Brigade  followed. 

In  riding  over  the  ground  next  day,  I  came  to  where  the 
charge  was  made  upon  the  rebel  battery.  The  road  was 
strewed  with  dead  horses  and  broken  harness,  and  a  few 
broken  gun  carriages.  l^ear  by,  six  dead  horses  marked 
the  spot  where  a  single  gun  had  been  planted  to  deal  death 
among  our  men.  The  gun  was  gone,  but  deep  marks  in 
the  hard  ground  told  of  the  fearful  rebound  it  gave  at  each 


248  HISTORY   OF   THE 

discharge.  Within  ten  feet  of  the  spot  on  which  the  gun 
stood,  nine  graves  ranged  side  by  side,  disclosing  the  resting 
place  of  those  who  fell  beside  it. 

The  battle  was  over,  the  enemy  routed,  and  "  On  to 
Yicksburg!"  was  the  word.  On  we  went,  and  by  midnight 
were  within  four  miles  of  the  city.  We  now  occupy  the 
rear  of  the  city,  our  lines  extending  from  Warrenton  on  the 
Mississippi  to  Haines*  Bluff  on  the  Ya/oo  river. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  our  guns  were  thundering, 
and  each  day  the  cannonading  lias  been  going  on.  We 
have  free  communication  with  Young's  Point  by  way  of 
Haines'  Bluff,  and  witli  all  below  by  way  of  Warrenton, 
and  are  receiving  provisions  and  ammunition,  in  fact  sup 
plies  of  all  kinds,  by  way  of  the  Yazoo.  Since  coming  to 
Yicksburg,  the  Second  Brigade  lias  been  constantly  in  the 
field,  and  the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  has  been  close 
upon  the  trenches,  shielded  by  a  ridge,  waiting*  for  their 
time  to  come  to  "go  in." 

There  is  no  time  for  writing;  I  am  in  the  midst  of  the 
wounded  at  the  field  hospital  of  the  Third  Division,  and 
send  this  more  for  the  purpose  of  giving  a  list  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  than  for  anything  else. 

Our  march  from  Millikeirs  Bend  has  been  triumphant 
and  full  of  incidents,  and  I  regret  exceedingly  that  I  have 
not  been  permitted  to  pen  a  detailed  account  of  it. 

At  Thompson's  Hill,  Jackson,  Raymond,  Champion 
Hills,  Black  River  Bridge,  and  in  all  the  skirmishes,  we 
huve  completely  whipped  and  discomfited  the  rebels,  and 
drove  them  before  us  like  scared  sheep. 

Herewith  I  send  you  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of 
the  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment,  in  the  battles  of  Raymond 
and  Champion  Hills : 

WOUNDED 

At  the  battle  of  Raymond,  May  12,  1863,  and  left  in  the 
hospital  at  Raymond : 

Corporal  Simeon  H.  Cockins,  Company  A,  arm  fractured ; 
private  Solomon  J.  Donelson,  A,  fore-arm,  buck  shot;  pri- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   I.  249 

vatc  Charles  B.  Mason,  1),  shoulder,  severely.  (This  was 
an  accident,  the  wound  being  inflicted  by  his  own  gun.) 
Private  David  Miller,  D,  head,  severely;  private  Isaac 
Drum,  B,  head,  slight;  private  William  C.  Younger,  B, 
thigh,  slight ;  private  Thomas  llartsell,  II,  head,  scalp 
wound;  Corporal  Oliver  Story,  F,  abdomen,  since  died; 
George  W\  Richardson,  A,  thigh,  flesh  wound. 

The  following  arc  the  casualties  at  the  battle  of  Champion 
Hills,  May  16,  1863: 

KILLED. 

Lewis  Voght,  private,  Company  A ;  Sergeant  Abner 
Roach,  I;  Sergeant  —  Stitte,  C  ;  private  Jno.  F.  Mclntosh, 
]  ;  private  James  Taylor,  F;  private  William  McBurney, 
J  [ ;  private  Enoch  Gray,  K. 

WOUNDED. 

Private  David  Wilson,  Company  A,  head,  severely;  pri 
vate  Philander  S.  Castor,  A,  shoulder,  severely;  private 
Samuel  Jackson,  A,  head,  slight ;  Lieutenant  Jas.  Csldwell, 
A,  abdomen,  severely,  since  died;  Adjutant  II.  Abbott,  A, 
head,  severely  ;  private  Randolph  C.  Austin,  B,  chest  and 
left  shoulder  ;  Sergeant  Harrison  C.  Yarner,  B,  shoulder  ; 
private  Silas  Eaton,  B,  fore  arm  fractured,  resection;  private 
George  W.  Lay,  B,  chest  and  back,  severely ;  Sergeant 

Andrew  McDaniels,  thigh,  flesh  wound ;  private  ,   C, 

fracture  of  both  bones  of  the  leg,  amputated;  private  Jas. 

D.  Austin,  D,  neck,  severely ;  private  "William  Weller,  E, 
conical  ball  through  the  elbow  joint,  exseetion  of  the  joint; 
private  J.  C.  Russell,  E,  thigh,  flesh  wound;  James  Russell, 

E,  abdomen,  severely;  Jacob  Beisaker,   E,  shot  through 
the  knee  joint,  amputation  lower  third  of  thigh ;  Joseph 
Vankirk,  F,  fore  arm,  severely,  exseetion  of  elbow ;  pri 
vate  Robert  A.  David,   Company  G,  thigh,  flesh  wound  ; 
private   Joseph   Rhinehart,  hip,  severely ;  private  George 
Kimball,  Company  II,  leg,  flesh  wound;    James  Hudson, 
Company  H,  hip  and  abdomen,  since  died;  private  Francis 
Scott,  II,  face,  buck-shot ;  Sergeant  Daniel  Raney,  II,  leg, 
flesh  wound ;  private  George  W.  Steele,  I,  arm,  spent  ball ; 


250  HISTOKY    OF  THE 

private  Aaron  Floyd,  K,  back,  flesh  wound  ;  private  Samuel 
Giesy,  Iv,  hand;  private  George  Luinbatus,  K,  hand  frac 
tured  ;  private  John  Greenbank,  Iv,  hand,  slight ;  private 
Hiram  Eecd,  Iv,  thigh  and  arm ;  private  John  "Weir,  A, 
face,  (lower  jaw);  Corporal  Andrew  McPherson,  E,  neck  ; 
Lieutenant  Israel  Robinson,  D,  hip,  contusion  ;  private 
Lewis  Rowley,  G. 

We  left  Milliken's  Bend  without  much  transportation, 
without  a  change  of  clothing,  tents  or  cooking  utensils, 
save  perhaps  a  coifee-pot  and  frying-pan,  and  have  slept 
upon  the  ground  with  the  bright  stars  twinkling  above  us  ; 
and  during  the  whole  trip  it  has  rained  but  twice  to  cause 
any  discomfort. 

May  23. —  Yesterday  the  First  Brigade  of  our  Division 
charged  the  cnenry's  earthworks,  but  were  obliged  to  fall 
back.  For  some  time  they  stood  in  the  face  of  a  heavy 
lire,  and  the  Brigade  was  badly  cut  up.  Two  hundred  and 
nineteen  men  were  brought  in  and  placed  in  the  wards  of 
the  Division  Hospital,  many  of  them  badly  wounded.  The 
number  killed  has  not  been  reported. 

Our  Army  Corps  is  in  fine  spirits  at  our  prospect  of  a 
sure  and  speedy  reduction  of  this  rebel  stronghold,  and  the 
opening  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  is  good,  and  during  the 
present  month  there  has  been  but  little  complaint  of  ill 
health.  Captain  McCarty  is  commanding  Company  E, 
and  is  deservedly  regarded  with  favor,  for  he  is  a  good 
officer.  Lieutenant  Stewart  is  now  in  command  of  Com 
pany  Iv,  and  should  receive  a  Captaincy,  as  he  fully 
merits  it. 

It  is  now  a  year  and  a  half  since  I  left  home,  and  I 
hope,  after  we  take  Yicksburg,  to  visit  home,  and  tell  you 
of  a  thousand  things  I  cannot  get  time  to  write. 

Respectfully  Yours, 

JAMES  S.  REEVES, 
Surgeon  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment,  0.  V.  I. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  251 

SIEGE  OF  YICKSBURG. 

On  the  22d  of  May  the  whole  rebel  army  commanded  by 
Pemberton,  was  enclosed  in  a  wall  of  steel.  The  Union 
army  occupied  a  crescent  line  nine  miles  in  extent.  General 
Sherman  on  the  right,  General  McPherson  the  center, 
General  McClernand  the  left.  On  the  22d  the  whole  line 
charged  the  enemy's  works.  The  writer  stood  upon  an 
eminence  with  Captain  Roberts,  one  of  the  officers  of  the 
Signal  Corps,  where  we  could  distinctly  see  nearly  all  our 
line  move  forward  to  the  charge.  The  fighting  was  terrible 
and  deadly,  but  the  works  were  so  formidable  that  our 
men  could  not  scale  them  after  they  had  reached  the  base; 
consequently  the  charge  proved  unsuccessful  along  the 
whole  line.  A  skirmish  line  was  immediately  established 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  rifle-pits 
constructed  which  kept  the  enemy  down  inside  their  works. 
Here  our  troops  remained  for  a  period  of  forty-four  days, 
each  day  pouring  a  storm  of  lead  and  iron  into  the 
enemy's  works  and  the  city. 

Many  interesting  incidents  here  occurred  between  the 
soldiers  of  both  armies,  which  all  this  time  were  near 
enough  to  converse  with  each  other.  Many  little  dialogues 
took  place,  which  would  swell  our  chapter  too  large  to 
narrate. 

At  times  they  would  agree  to  be  civil  to  each  other  for 
a  specified  time,  and  throwing  aside  their  deadly  weapons, 
would  meet  each  other  between  the  lines  for  social  chat, 
and  frequently  make  a  cup  of  coffee,  exchange  canteens, 
buttons  and  rings. 

The  country  in  the  immediate  rear  of  Yicksburg  is  one 
interminable  series  of  swells,  sandy  hills  or  mounds,  dotted 
with  lovely  groves  and  elegant  plantations,  mostly  in  fine 
cultivation.  These  mounds,  almost  straight  up  and  down, 
and  of  a  compact  sandy  soil,  are  furrowed  and  covered  with 
corn. 

The  hollows  are  deep  and  wide,  with  excellent  cause 
ways,  bubbling  springs  and  fragrant  groves,  and  now 


20Z  HISTORY  OF   THE 

are  filled  with  Yankees.  2u>  troops  of  consequrnce  are 
visible  till  we  get  into  the  hollows,  where,  concealed  from 
the  enemy's  view,  are  the  tents,  equipage,  etc.,  of  a  powerful 

army. 

The  Second  Brigade's  camp  was  in  one  of  these  deep 
ravines,  near  the  Jackson  road,  which  led  to  the  White 
House  and  Fort  Hill,  a  half  a  mile  distant.  From  the 
White  House  to  the  enemy's  works  called  Fort  Hill,  Gen 
eral  Leggett  had  dug  a  ditch  ten  feet  wide,  and  deep 
enough  to  shelter  a  horseman.  This  sap  was  run  into  the 
walls  of  Fort  Hill,  which  was  mined  for  the  purpose  of 
blowing  up  the  Fort.  This  whole  operation  was  under  the 
superintendence  of  General  Leggett.  In  his  first  effort,  he 
used  twenty-five  hundred  pounds  of  powder,  which  made 
a  large  entrance  in  the  fort. 

The  Forty-Fifth  Illinois  regiment  entered  the  gap,  where 
quite  a  fight  took  place  between  them  and  the  rebels.  The 
.tight  was  at  close  quarters,  grasping  each  other's  bayonets, 
and  wresting  the  guns  from  each  other's  hands,  pulling 
each  other  by  the  hair,  etc.,  till  both  sides  began  to  toss 
over  shells  and  hand-grenades;  this  caused  both  sides  to 
fall  back  from  the  gap.  Both  the  Colonel  and  Major  of  the 
Forty-Fifth  Illinois  were  killed;  also  about  one  hundred 
men  were  killed  or  wounded. 

July  1st. —  General  Leggett  completed  another  mine  or 
sap  into  the  fort,  and  placed  one  ton  of  powder  under  the 
wall.  When  the  match  was  applied  the  explosion  was 
terrible,  blowing  out  about  about  fifty  feet  in  length,  and 
burying  rebels  by  the  score,  and  throwing  many  high  in 
the  air.  Eight  of  these  were  blown  upon  our  side  of  the 
fort,  three  of  whom  were  colored,  and  all  were  killed  but 
two.  One  of  the  negroes  was  but  little  injured,  and  insists 
that  he  was  blown  three  miles  in  the  air.  General  Logan 
had  his  wounds  dressed  and  well  cared  for. 

General  Joe  Johnston  had  at  this  time  taken  possession 
of  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  was  marching  toward  Yicksburg  to 
make  an-  attack  upon  our  rear,  in  order  to  relieve  Pembertou 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   Y.   I.  253 

and  his  starved  garrison,  which  were  now  reduced  to  the 
most  scanty  rations,  consisting  of  mule  meat  and  hean 
bread.  General  Sherman  was  ordered  with  part  of  the 
army  in  which  was  the  Second  Brigade,  to  march  against 
Johnston. 

The  evening  of  the  3d  of  July  every  preparation  was 
made  to  give  the  rebel  army  and  city  a  grand  celebration  on 
the  4th.  Consequently  every  piece  of  artillery  was  sup 
plied  with  oiie  hundred  and  fifty  rounds  of  ammunition  for 
that  purpose. 

GENERAL  PEMBERTON  SURRENDERS  lllS  ARMY  AND  THE  CITY  — THE 
CLOSING  SCENES  OF  THE  VICKSBURG  SIEGE. 

July  1. —  Affairs  became  desperate  with  the  rebels,  and 
one  more  effort  was  made  to  cut  through  our  lines  by  con 
centrating  upon  the  left,  but  they  were  repulsed  with  heavy 
loss,  and  driven  back  to  their  places  of  shelter. 

On  the  evening  of  the  8d  a  Hag  of  truce  came  into  our 
lines,  brought  by  two  Confederate  officers.  The  messengers 
were  blindfolded,  and  remained  waiting  the  return  of  Gen 
eral  Smith,  who  bore  dispatches  from  Pemberton  to 
General  Grant.  Their  eyes  were  unbaudaged,  and  they 
talked  freely  with  the  Union  officers.  One  said  that  iron 
enough  had  been  thrown  into  Vicksburg  to  stock 
a-  foundry,  and  build  monuments  for  all  the  citizens  and 
soldiers  that  had  fallen.  "When  General  Smith  returned, 
the  officers  were  again  blindfolded  and  conducted  to  a  sate 
point,  from  which  they  could  enter  their  own  lines. 

The  character  of  the  dispatches  was  as  follows  :  "That 
the  unnecessary  effusion  of  blood  might  be  prevented  by 
the  cessation  of  hostilities,  during  which  commissioners 
might  be  appointed  to  agree  on  terms  for  the  surrender  of 
the  city ;  also  intimating  that  he  could  hold  out  for  an 
indefinite  period." 

General  Grant  replied  briefly,  saying  that  General 
Pemberton  had  it  in  his  power  to  stop  the  effusion  of  blood, 
and  the  appointment  of  commissioners  was  unnecessary,  as 
the  only  stipulation  he  could  accept  was  an  unconditional 


254  HISTORY   OP  THE 

surrender ;  that  the  rebel  garrison  should  be  treated  with 
the  courtesy  due  prisoners  of  war. 

The  messenger  had  not  long  been  gone  till  he  returned 
with  a  dispatch  from  Pemberton,  asking  a  personal  ;uter- 
view  with  Grant,  which  was  promptly  granted.  At  3  P. 
M.  the  interview  took  place,  about  midway  between  the 
contending  forces.  General  Grant  came  slowly  and  delib 
erately  to  the  place  of  rendezvous,  smoking  his  cigar,  and 
apparently  the  only  unexcited  person  in  the  vast  assemblage 
ot  Federal  soldiers,  who  dared  for  the  first  time  to  appear 
outside  of  their  rifle-pits.  Pemberton  first  remarked  that  he 
had  been  present  when  different  fortresses  surrendered  to 
the  Federal  arms  in  Mexico;  in  these  the  enemy  were  grant 
ed  terms  and  conditions,  and  he  thought  his  army  as  well 
entitled  to  favor  as  a  foreign  foe. 

General  Grant  proposed  a  private  conversation,  and  both 
stepped  aside.  What  passed  between  them  can  be  known 
by  its  results.  After  a  little  more  than  one  hour  the  terms 
were  arranged,  and  the  rebels  surrendered.  About  thirty- 
two  thousand  rebels  were  paroled. 

At  10  A.  M.,  July  4,  General  Leggett  had  the  honor  of 
entering  the  city  with  his  command,  and  placing  the  flag 
upon  the  Court  House.  Soon  the  city  was  full  of  soldiers 
from  both  armies,  associating  and  chatting  freely  and  with 
much  good  nature  with  each  other.  No  unfriendly  or 
malignant  feeling  was  manifested  on  the  part  of  any. 

The  business  portion  of  the  city  was  plundered  by  the 
rebel  soldiers,  which,  to  the  shame  of  rebel  officers,  was 
blamed  upon  the  Federal  army,  and  made  capital  of  to 
incite  the  people  of  the  South  to  hatred  of  the  Yankees. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Federal  army  in  the  series  of  battles 
is  as  follows : 

Port  Gibson,  130  killed,  118  wounded;  Fourteen  Mile 
Creek,  4  killed,  24  wounded;  Raymond,  69  killed,  341 
wounded;  Jackson,  40  killed,  290  wounded;  Champion 
Hills,  421  killed,  1842  wounded,  189  missing ;  Black  liiver, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  255 

29  killed,  242  wounded,  2  missing;  Vicksburg,  545  killed, 
3688  wounded,  803  missing. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  had  only  one  killed  at  Vicks 
burg,  Lyons,  of  Company  A,  who  was  a  young  man  of 
excellent  character,  and  an  efficient  and  faithful  soldier. 


THE   REGIMENT   AFTER   THE    SURRENDER    OF 
VICKSBURG. 

CLINTON,  MISS.  —  MONROEYILLE,  LA.  —  THE  REGIMENT  CONTESTS 
FOR  A  PRIZE  FLAG  —  DEATHS  BY  DISEASES  —  IT  VETERAN 
IZES —  THE  MERIDIAN  EXPEDITION  —  HOME  ON  VETERAN 
FURLOUGH* 

The  following  letter  by  Captain  A.  A.  Aclair  gives  a  full 
history  of  the  regiment  on  the  Jackson  expedition  against 
General  Johnston  : 

CHAPLAIN  T.  M.  STEVENSON: 

Dear  Sir  : —  Since  we  crossed  the  Mississippi  we  have  been 
on  the  go  all  the  time  ;  doing  up  our  fighting,  and  at  the 
same  time  making  our  regular  marches^  day  after  day, 
through  thick  and  thin,  being  weary,  foot-sore  and  hungry, 
yet  we  fell  not  by  the  way-side,  because  of  the  good  work 
we  were  sent  to  help  accomplish.  And  lo !  it  is  finished  to  a 
great  extent.  The-  great  Western  Gibraltar,  which  the 
rebels  harped  about  so  much,  has  fallen,  with  its  seventeen 
( ienerals  and  thirty-one  thousand  prisoners,  fifty  thousand 
stand  of  arms,  besides  a  large  number  of  cannon ;  and 
what  makes  it  more  glorious,  it  was  surrendered  on  the 
4th  of  July,  which  will  ever  be  remembered  in  ages  to 
come. 

Now  for  a  short  history  of  the  doings  of  the  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment  since  crossing  the  Mississippi,  which  we  did  on  the 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  257 

1st  of  May,  the  next  day  after  the  bombardment  of  Grand 
Gulf.  After  our  Division  had  crossed,  our  regiment  was  left 
at  the  landing  to  load  up  the  train  with  ammunition  and 
rations,  while  they  went  on  out  to  the  battle  of  Thomp 
son's  Hill,  which  had  commenced  that  morning,  "We  came 
up  with  the  train  after  dark,  and  found  the  battle  over, 
being  a  great  success  on  our  side.  The  next  day  we 
marched  through  Port  Gibson,  and  were  in  pursuit  of  the 
beaten  foe.  They  burned  the  bridge  across  the  river  in 
their  retreat,  and  we  were  obliged  to  take  a  roundabout 
course  in  pursuing  them.  On  the  second  morning  we 
came  upon  them,  when  they  commenced  shelling  our 
advance.  But  we  pushed  on  until  we  came  to  Black 
river,  when  they  burned  the  bridge  after  crossing  ;  but  not 
before  they  got  a  few  shells  from  one  piece  of  DeGalyer's 
celebrated  Michigan  Battery,  which  made  them  skedaddle. 
Several  prisoners  were  taken,  who  had  dropped  out  by  the 
roadside,  not  being  able  to  keep  up  with  the  retreating 
"  robs." 

AVe  encamped  at  Black  river  that  night,  and  the  next 
morning  the  rebels,  in  turn,  commenced  to  shell  us.  But 
their  guns  were  soon  silenced  by  DeGalyer,  who  is  con 
sidered  to  bo  one  of  the  best  artillerists  in  this  Department, 
During  the  siege  of  Yicksburg  he  was  wounded  by  a 
musket  ball  while  lying  in  his  tent,  and  has  been  sent 
home.  "We  remained  near  Black  river  four  or  five  days, 
when  we  came  upon  the  rebels  at  Raymond.  Our  Brigade 
engaged  them  for  about  two  hours,  it  being  pretty  severe 
for  the  time.  But  we  succeeded  in  utterly  routing  them, 
losing  out  of  the  regiment  twelve  men  wounded,  two  o.f 
whom  have  since  died.  Encamping  near  Raymond  for  the 
night,  the  next  morning  we  set  out  for  Jackson,  arriving 
there  just  as  the  battle  was  ended.  But  the  "Flying 
Brigade  "  was  not  to  be  put  oft'  in  that  way ;  so  we  were 
ordered  on  the  double-quick,  in  a  kind  of  circuit  around 
the  place,  to  try  and  cut  oft' the  retreat  of  the  rebels,  (so  it 

17 


258  HISTORY   OF   THE 

was  said)  making  us  travel  five  or  six  miles  for  nothing,  as 
it  appeared  to  us. 

We  did  not  get  to  see  the  great  rebel  capital  as  we 
wished,  as  we  encamped  on  the  outer  side  of  it.  The  next 
morning  we  were  ordered  back  toward  Yicksbnrg,  and  on 
the  16th  came  upon  the  enemy  in  full  force  at  Champion. 
Hills,  where  our  regiment  was  hotly  engaged  for  five  or 
six  hours,  losing  eight  men  killed  and  fifty-six  wounded. 
Company  E  lost  none  killed,  but  had  four  wounded,  one 
of  whom  has  since  died  —  Jacob  Beisakcr,  who  was 
wounded  in  the  leg,  and  had  to  have  it  amputated.  lie 
died  on  the  hospital  boat  bound  for  Memphis.  In  his 
death  Company  E  loses  a  good  soldier,  and  his  widowed 
mother  a  noble  boy.  She  has  the  sympathies  of  all  the 
members  of  the  company,  and  has  the  consolation  of 
knowing  that  he  died  in  a  good  cause.  He  was  loved  and 
respected  by  all  his  companions  in  arms,  and  it  seems 
hard  that  we  had  to  part  with  him. 

The  battle  of  Champion  Hills  will  long  be  remembered 
by  the  old  Seventy-Eighth,  as  well  as  by  a  great  many 
others.  The  rebel  regiment  in  front  of  us  in  the  fight 
was  the  Forty-Third  Georgia,  and  its  mortality  list  shows 
that  we  done  good  work.  The  rebels  were  completely 
routed  an  I  demoralized,  and  fled  in  great  confusion  to  the 
Black  river  bridge,  where  they  endeavored  to  make 
another  stand,  but  were  not  given  time.  Our  forces  pur 
sued  them  early  next  morning,  and  made  a  charge  on  their 
works  at  the  bridge,  capturing  fifteen  hundred  prisoner?, 
seventeen  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  lot  of  ammunition,  when 
they  made  tracks  toward  Yicksburg.  Our  forces  were  in 
pursuit  as  soon  as  pontoons  could  be  got  across  the  river; 
and  on  the  18th  we  succeeded  in  driving  them  in  behind. 
their  forts.  Our  Brigade  remained  as  a  re.-erve  until  the 
22d,  when  we  were  ordered  up  to  support  the  charge  that 
was  made  that  day.  But  finding  that  a  failure,  the  next 
day  our  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  support  of  a  battery, 
which  position  we  held  until  the  night  of  the  25th,  whe/n 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  259 

we  were  ordered  to  join  the  expedition  sent  out  to  Mechan- 
icsburg  under  General  Blair.  Finding  nothing  but  a  few 
cavalry,  which  were  soon  routed,  we  returned  by  way  of 
Ilaines'  Bluffs,  where  we  remained  three  or  four  days,  and 
then  to  Yicksburg,  where  we  were  doing  constant  duty  in 
the  rifle-pits  until  the  22d  of  June,  when  we  were  again 
ordered  to  join  an  expedition  sent  out  in  command  of 
General  Sherman  to  attend  to  Johnston,  who  had  been 
threatening  our  rear  for  some  time.  We  threw  up  fortifica 
tions  at  a  little  place  called  Tiffin,  expecting  an  attack  daily. 
AVe  had  been  there  but  two  or  three  days  when  we  heard 
of  the  great  surrender  of  Yicksburg  on  the  4th.  That 
night  our  Brigade  was  addressed  by  Colonel  Force,  com 
manding,  who  gave  us  a  neat  little  speech. 

AVe  could  hear  the  firing  all  along  at  Tiffin,  and  as  it 
ceased  that  morning,  it  was  supposed  that  something  of 
the  kind  had  taken  place,  as  we  knew  it  could  not  hold  out 
much  longer,  and  must  eventually  full.  After  remaining 
at  Tiffin  a  tew  days,  we  moved  to  Bovina,  on  the  Yicks 
burg  and  Jackson  liailroad,  remaining  there  about  a  week. 
We  got  orders  to  move  toward  Jackson,  where  w<2 
expected  to  have  something  to  do,  as  Johnston  was  reported 
there  with  forty  thousand  men,  and  strongly  fortified. 
The  first  day's  march  from  Bovina  brought  us  to  Champion 
Hills,  where  we  encamped  on  the  old  battle-ground  that 
we  had  fought  over  but  a  short  time  before.  The  next  day 
we  moved  to  Clinton,  where  we  still  remain. 

Since  leaving  Yicksburg  we  have  been  detached  from  our 
old  Division,  and  arc  now  under  the  command  of  General 
Ale  Arthur,  for  the  time  being;  but  we  hope  soon  to  go 
bock  and  join  our  old  Division,  commanded  by  the  invet 
erate  Logan. 

\Yc  arrived  at  Clinton  on  the  evening  of  the  llth,  and 
the  next  morning  all  the  troops  moved  out  with  the 
exception  of  our  regiment,  which  remained  to  occupy  the 
place.  As  a  matter  of  course,  we  had  a  great  deal  of  duty 
to  perform,  being  the  only  regiment  in  the  place.  Coloiujf 


260  HISTORY   OF   THE 

"Wiles  being  commander  of  the  post,  all  persons  who 
wanted  passe*  had  to  come  to  him.  lie  was  kept  busy  all 
day,  issuing  passes  to  persons  who  claimed  to  be  wanting 
to  go  to  Vicksburg,  and  various  other  places,  on  very 
important  business.  But  their  main  object  was  soon  found 
out  to  be  to  convey  intelligence  to  a  cavalry  force  who 
were  moving  around  here,  their  object  supposed  to  be  to 
attack  Sherman's  train  that  was  moving  on  its  way  out 
from  Black  river,  loaded  with  ammunition  and  rations. 

On  the  evening  of  the  15th,  Colonel  Wiles  received  a 
dispatch  from  General  Sherman,  stating  that  a  rebel  cav 
alry  force  was  approaching,  and  for  him  to  be  on  the  alert. 
The  Colonel  immediately  commenced  preparing  to  meet 
them.  He  had  the  pickets  reinforced,  and  ordered  the  men 
to  have  their  "traps"  ready,,  so  they  could  be  up  and  into 
line  in  a  moment,  should  an  attack  be  made.  Those  cit 
izens  had  undoubtedly  reported  to  them  that  only  one 
regiment  was  left  at  the  place,  and  they  thought  they  had 
us  sure..  But  abmit  10  o'clock  that  night,  General  Matiiias* 
Brigade  arrived  from  the  front,  it  having  been  sent  back  to 
help  us  out  of  the  scrape. 

Of  course  we  were  glad  to  urcet  them,  but  we  were  deter 
mined  to  do  our  best  and  hold  the  place  if  possible-.  The 
next  morning  a  cavalryman  came  dashing  down  the  road 
and  told  us  to  be  ready,  that  they  were  coining  in  force. 
Wo  were  into  line  in  short  order,,  and  moved  up  to  the  rail 
road,  which  we  intended  to  occupy  for  breastworks.  It  was 
but  a  little  while  until  skirmishing  commenced  between 
our  pickets  and  the  "rebs."  But  for  some  reason  they 
took  care  not  to  advance  too  close,,  although  none  but  our 
regiment  was  in  position.  IN'o  doubt  they  had  heard  of  our 
reinforcements  the  night  before,  and  thought  it  best  not  to 
advance  any  further,  for  they  soon  found  out  that  we  were 
ready  to.  meet  them. 

The  advance  of  the  rebels — six  in  number  —  were  cap 
tured  by  our  pickets  on  their  approach.  They  came  upon 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  261 

our  cavalry  pickets  before  they  were  aware  of  tbeir approach, 

and  they  had  to  fall  hack  into  the  woods,  and  let  the  "nebs*' 
come  in.  But  when  they  got  to  our  infantry  pickets  they 
were  halted  and  told  to  surrender,  and  seeing  our  cavalry 
closing  in  behind  them,  they  concluded  they  had  to  do  it. 
Lieutenant  Stewart,  of  Company  E,  had  command  of  the 
pickets,  and  was  highly  complimented  by  Colonel  Wiles 
for  the  way  he  discharged  his  duty  during  the  engagement. 

The  force  of  the  rebels  was  estimated  at  fifteen  hundred, 
and  in  the  fracas  they  lost  t\vo  inon  killed.  Our  loss  was 
nothing ;  one  of  Company  F  had  a  piece  taken  off  his 
jacket  by  a  ball.  So  nwich  for  the  Seventy-Eighth,  who 
were  victorious  at  the  skirmish  iioar  Clinton,  Miss.,  July 
10,  1863. 

Since  crossing  the  Mississippi  river  we  have  marched 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  and  have  endured 
hardships  that  no  other  teoops  have  done  in  the  same  space 
of  time,  and  doing  as  much  good  as  we  have  accomplished. 
At  the  siege  of  Vicksbnrg  we  were  always  on  hand  when 
duty  called,  and  ready  to  face  the  foe  when  ordered. 

While  at  Bcvina  the  members  of  Company  E  took  it 
into  their  heads  to  make  our  Colonel  a  present  of  a  set  of 
shoulder  straps.  And  you  know  whatever  they  undertake 
to  do  they  generally  go  through  with.  Below  I  give  you 
the  note  accompanying  the  present,  and  also  Colonel  Wiles' 
reply: 

CAM?  NEAR  BOVIXA,  Miss.,  July  9,  1863. 

LIEUTEXAXT-COLOXEL    G.    F.    WlLES  : — 

Sir:— On  behalf  of  the  members  of  Company  E,  I  here 
with  present  to  you  a  set  of  shoulder-straps,  thus  showing 
our  respect  toward  }*ou  as  a  man,  and  placing  our  entire 
confidence  in  you  as  a  commanding  officer.  Hoping  this 
act  will  meet  with  your  approval,  I  remain 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Aj>.  A.  ADAIR, 
Sergeant  Company  E. 


262  HISTORY   OF   THE 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   WILES*    REPLY. 

HEADQUARTERS   SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  0.  V.  I., 

BOVIXA,  Miss.,  July  10,  1863. 
SERGEAXT  ADAIR  : — 

It  certainly  affords  me  unfeigned  pleasure,  as  well  a? 
a  very  pleasant  surprise,  to  receive  and  accept  through  you. 
Sergeant,  the  very  handsome  present  I  have  received  from 
that  gallant  company  which  you  represent.  Such  a  mani 
festation  coming  from  the  "boys"  renders  the  act  more 
dear  to  me,  and  is  more  of  a  compliment  than  it  would  be 
coming  from  the  Governor  of  our  State.  I  feel  proud  that 
my  conduct  has  met  the  approval  of  the  men  1  have  the* 
honor  to  command,  and  1  shall  endeavor  to  sustain  that 
relation  to  the  extent  of  my  ability. 

I  also  regard  it  as  no  unmeaning  tribute,  for  the  donors 
and  myself  have  been  together  on  more  than  one  occasion 
where  it  tried  men's  souls.  Members  of  Company  E, 
again  1  thank  you.  G.  E.  WILES, 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Commanding. 

Our  duty  continues  heavy  —  furnishing  pickets,  provost 
guards  and  forage  details  every  day,  these  having  nearly 
half  the  regiment  on  duty  daily.  By  going  into  the 
country  a  short  distance,  roasting  ears,  melons,  peaches 
and  apples  can  be  had  in  abundance.  And  the  boys  are 
always  ready  for  duty  when  there  is  foraging  to  be  done. 

"We  received  the  news  to-day  of  the  evacuation  of  Jack 
son  by  the  rebels,  where  it  was  thought  they  would  make 
a  desperate  stand;  but  it  seems  as  though  they  gave  up  the 
place  with  comparatively  little  fighting.  Where  they  will 
make  their  next  stand  I  am  unable  to  say.  But  my  opin 
ion  is,  they  are  about  gone  up  the  spout.  The  news  from 
the  east  is  very  encouraging  indeed ;  and  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  this  rebellion  will  come  to  an  end. 

The  health  of  the  boys  is  pretty  good.  A  few  cases  of 
the  ague  still  hang  on,  but  there  are  no  serious  cases. 

Clinton  is  ten  miles  from  Jackson,  on  the  railroad,  and  is 
tiie  most  bitter  secesh  hole  I  have  come  across  in  the  South. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.    I.  283 

I  have  had  the  honor  of  calling  on  some  of  the  fair  damsels 
of  the  Southern  soil,  and  find  them  even  worse  than  the 
men  ;  which  is  generally  the  case  on  all  topics,  (not  wishing 
to  say  anything  against  the  dear  creatures  at  all.) 

You  can  hardly  see  the  town  for  the  houses,  hut  it  is  a 
pretty  situation,  and  could  he  made  a  nice  place. 

General  Me  Arthur  is  ordered  to  keep  open  the  road 
against  guerrillas  between  here  and  Champion  Hills,  but  we 
are  anxious  to  go  hack  and  join  our  old  Division,  and  spend 
the  summer  on  the  Mississippi. 

On  the  25th  day  of  July  the  regiment  returned  to  Vicks- 
Imrg  and  pitched  camp  on  Walnut  Hills,  near  the  city. 
The  terrible  campaign  ended  ;  General  Johnston  and  all 
the  rebel  army  driven  far  east  of  Jackson  ;  the  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps  settles  down  round  Vicksburg  to  rest  and 
recuperate  its  thinned  and  wearied  ranks.  The  Thirteenth 
Army  Corps  goes  South  ;  the  Fifteenth  goes  with  General 
Sherman  to  Memphis,  and  thence  toward  Chattanooga. 
The  brave  Sixty-Eighth  and  Twentieth  Ohio  Regiments 
still  remain  with  the  Seventy-Eighth ;  these  three  regi 
ments  have  become  banded  together  as  firmly  as  brothers  ; 
all  have  shared  equally  in  dangers  and  hardships,  in  honors 
and  triumphs. 

The  effects  of  the  long  campaign  upon  the  men  begin 
now  to  be  developed  in  disease,  much  sickness  and 
many  deaths. 

The  Brigade  remains  scarcely  a  day  idle,  but  commence 
building  fortifications  around  the  city.  Two  hours  every 
day  are  spent  in  drill. 

August  25  —  The  Division  went  on  reconnoisance  to 
Monroeville,  Louisiana.  The  march  was  a  hard  one,  and 
many  men  never  recovered  from  its  effects.  Part  of  the 
way  was  through  swamps,  now  dried  by  the  summer's  sun, 
and  covered  with  weeds  and  grass  higher  than  the  horses 
backs ;  in  this,  rattle-snakes  of  all  sizes  dwelt  as  thick  as 
fish  in  the  river.  These  the  men  shot  and  killed  bj  the 
thousand. 


264  HISTOKT    OF   THE 

Monroeville  was  at  length  reached.  The  town  Is  situated 
on  the  Washita  Kiver,  and  is  a  pleasant  little  place  of  about 
one  thousand  inhabitants ;  the  rebel  army  said  to  be 
encamped  there  had  fled;  it  consisted  only  of  a  few  cavalry. 
Yankee  soldiers  were  quite  a  curiosity  to  the  natives,  no 
Federal  troops  had  before  been  seen  by  them.  The  people 
were  living  in  blissful  ignorance,  cut  off  from  all  communi 
cations  with  the  world,  they  had  not  received  the  intelli 
gence  that  Yicksburg  had  fallen,  and  come  into  the  pos 
session  of  the  Federal  army.  The  women  manifested  no 
fear,  nor  malignant  feelings,  but  treated  the  soldiers  very 
courteously,  and  visited  the  camps  the  next  morning.  The 
Division  remained  but  one  night,  and  then  took  up  its 
march  again  to  Yicksburg,  having  accomplished  nothing, 
but  thinned  somewhat  the  serpents  of  the  bayous  and 
swamps. 

All  the  sick  able  to  travel  are  furlough ed  home,  and 
Colonel  Wiles  with  many  of  the  officers  received  leave  of 
absence.  On  September  13  a  beautiful  flag  from  the  ladies 
of  Zanesville  was  presented  the  regiment  by  General 
Leggett.  I  regret  much  that  I  cannot  obtain  a  copy  of  his- 
address  to  the  regiment.  Captain  A.  L.  "Wallar,  then  in 
command  of  the  regiment,  responded  in  its  behalf  in  a 
brief  and  very  appropriate  speech. 

On  November  15th  the  Seventeenth  Corps  start  on  a 
reconnoisance  toward  Canton  and  Jackson,  Miss.,  to  dis 
perse  rebel  encampments,  and  troops  collecting  there.  The 
Seventy-Eighth  had  a  lively  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  but 
met  with  no  casualties.  The  enemy  in  some  force,  with 
artillery,  were  positioned  on  a  ridge.  The  regiment  imme 
diately  made  a  vigorous  charge  up  the  hill.  The  enemy 
fled  after  firing  a  few  rounds,  which  passed  over  our  men 
doing  no  damage. 

The  next  day,  finding  no  enemy  at  Canton,  after  destroy 
ing  much  railroad  stock,  it  took  up  its  march  for  Yicksburg. 

November  13th,  two  days  before  the  above  expedition, 
General  Logan  reviewed  the  Third  Division,  and  bid  fare- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.    I.  265 

well  to  it  in  an  earnest  and  deeply  affecting  speech.  lie 
had  been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps. 

General  Lcggett  is  appointed  to  take  command  of  the 
Division.  All  were  deeply  affected  in  parting  with  General 
Logan,  but  were  much  gratified  in  the  appointment  of 
General  Leggett  as  his  successor ;  and  ably  did  he  sustain 
the  high  character  of  the  Division,  and  fill  the  highest 
anticipations.  Under  him  it  never  lost  a  flag  by  capture, 
nor  was  driven  by  the  enemy. 

After  the  above  expedition  the  regiment  gave  much  atten 
tion  to  military  tactics  and  exercise  in  their  various  move 
ments  and  combinations.  It  was  soon  whispered  by  mili 
tary  men  that  the  Seventy-Eighth  excelled  all  others,  as  far 
as  their  observation  extended,  in  camp  and  field  discipline. 
Other  regiments,  therefore,  commenced  giving  their  atten 
tion  to  the  same  exercises  in  their  camps,  and  were  unwil 
ling  to  concede  so  much  to  the  Seventy-Eighth  regiment. 
In  order  to  settle  the  matter  in  question  General  Leggett 
offered  to  present  a  large  and  beautiful  flag  to  the  best 
drilled  regiment  in  the  Third  Division,  which  should  ba 
decided  by  a  bench  of  competent  judges. 

The  23d  of  January,  1804,  was  appointed  to  contest  for 
the  ilag.  The  day  was  mild  and  pleasant,  and  the  Division 
was  assembled  in  review  on  a  large  plateau  south  of  the 
city.  After  each  regiment  had  drilled  a  few  minutes,  the 
Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
Fourth  Illinois  were  chosen  to  contest  for  the  flag.  The 
ring  was  formed,  which  an  immense  crowd  of  spectators 
soon  surrounded.  The  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  first  entered 
the  ring  and  drilled  the  specified  time,  cheered  with  the 
greatest  enthusiasm  by  the  immense  throng.  The  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-Fourth  Illinois  entered  and  drilled 
the  same  length  of  time,  but  failed  to  elicit  so  much  enthu 
siasm  from  the  crowd  ;  almost  every  one  decided  it  in  favor 
of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio. 


266  HISTORY    OF   THE 

Two  of  the  judges  were  Illinois  Generals  ;  the  third  was 
from  Iowa.  The  former  decided  in  favor  of  their  own 
State,  the  latter  in  favor  of  Ohio.  The  person 
appointed  to  present  the  flag,  regarding  the  decision 
unjust,  refused  to  discharge  the  duty  assigned. 

On  the  5th  day  of  January  the  regiment  had  com 
pleted  its  veteran  organization,  and  was  mustered  accord 
ingly,  and  all  preparation  was  made  for  going  home  on 
veteran  furlough,  but  before  this  was  done,  General  Sherman 
came  with  the  Sixteenth  Corps  from  Memphis,  and 
decided  to  take  it  and  the  Seventeenth  on  an  expedition 
through  Mississippi,  which  was  commenced  February  1st. 
Thus  ended  the  long  and  pleasant  encampment  at  Vicks- 
burg. 

The  winter  was  made  pleasant  by  the  presence  of  Mrs. 
General  Leggett,  Mrs.  Colonel  "Wiles  and  Mrs.  Captain 
Douglas,  who  spent  the  winter  here  with  their  husbands. 

The  following  members  of  the  regiment  died  of  disease 

at  this  post : 

Wesley  Stiuchcomb,  Company  G,  August  1. 
"William  An  til,  Company  Iv,  August  8. 
William  Jordan,  Company  K,  August  3. 
Alva  B.  Sniif,  Company  B,  August  4. 
"Win.  J.  Morris,  Company  B,  August  21. 
James  Henderson,  Company  B,  September  7. 

Sprague,  Company  F,  August  5. 

Corporal  John  McEiroy,  Company  E,  August  7- 
James  Bailey,  Company  E,  September  27. 
Hamilton  Gardner,  Company  B,  August  14. 
Andrew  Mercer,  Company  G,  August  20. 
-Turner,  Company  II,  September  27. 

All  brave  men,  who  had  passed  unharmed  through  many 
littles,  dangers  and  hardships,  but  after  a  faithful  service 
they  surrendered  their  lives  a  sacrifice  upon  their  country's 
altar,  in  defense  of  the  right,  liberty  and  humanity. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.  V.    V.    I.  267 

THE    MERIDIAN   EXPEDITION. 

VICKSBURG,  Miss.,  March  9,  1864. 

KEV.    T.    M.  STEVENSON,    Chaplain  Seventy-Eighth   Regi 
ment  0.  Y.  I.:  — 

Having  returned  safely  to  camp  from  an  expedition 
greater  than  any  we  have  ever  before  participated  in,  I  ven 
ture  to  give  you  an  outline  of  our  adventures  while  "raid 
ing  "  in  rebcldom.  "We  left  camp  on  the  morning  of  the  3d 
of  February,  as  a  part  ot  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  and 
preceded  by  the  Sixteenth  Arm}'  Corps,  inarched  to  Black 
river,  which  stream  we  crossed  the  same  night,  and  bivouaced 
in  the  fields  three  miles  beyond  the  river.  On  the  4th  we 
resumed  our  march,  and  passing  the  old  battle-ground  of 
Champion  Hills,  halted  for  the  night  near  Bear  creek. 
Thus  far  our  way  was  not  marked  by  an  incident  worthy 
of  special  notice.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  Second 
Brigade  led  the  van,  and  upon  approaching  the  bridge 
across  Bear  creek,  the  rebels  were  found  to  have  a  battery 
in  position,  commanding  it.  As  the  troops  approached  the 
1) ridge,  a  brisk  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  rebels,  notwithstand 
ing  which  the  Brigade  crossed,  and  forming  in  battle  line 
in  good  order,  advanced  steadily  on  the  battery.  Soon  after 
crossing  the  bridge  a-  cannon  shot  passed  through  the 
Seventy-Eighth  regiment,  striking  private  Taylor  Geary, 
of  Company  G,  upon  the  head,  carrying  the  upper  portion 
of  the  head  away,  killing  him  instantlv.  It  then  struck  a 

*J   *  O  v 

gun  upon  the  shoulder  of  private  Hiram  Fogle,  bending  the 
gun  and  bruising  him  slightly.  Passing  on,  the  shot  struck 
Corporal  Joseph  Cowan  on  the  top  of  the  head,  fracturing 
the  skull,  and  mortally  wounding  him.  He  died  the  next 
day.  Both  good  men  and  true,  ever  faithful  in  the  discharge 
of  their  duties,  they  were  held  in  high  esteem  by  their 
officers  and  fellow  soldiers.  They  fell  gloriously,  while 
confronting  the  cannon  mouth,  and  died  as  brave  men  pre 
fer  to  die — at  their  post. 

Our  batteries  were  soon  at  work  and  after  a  sharp  artil 
lery  skirmish  of  nearly  an  hour,  the  rebels  retreated  toward, 


268  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Clinton,  and  we  followed  rapidly.  The  rebels  made  a  stand 
four  miles  beyond  Clinton,  and  threw  shot  and  shell  into 
our  midst,  killing  one  man  of  the  Seventh  Missouri,  and 
wounding  several.  They  were  soon  driven  from  their  posi 
tion  by  our  artillery,  and  fell  back  to  a  better  piece  of 
ground,  a  wood,  where  their  entire  force  of  mounted 
infantry,  under  General  AVirt  Adams,  formed  in  battle  line, 
and  awaited  our  approach.  Our  train  was  parked,  and  the 
troops  advanced,  deploying  to  the  right  of  the  Jackson 
road  as  they  reached  the  open  fields,  which  extended  for 
miles,  and  afforded  a  splendid  view  of  both  lines.  As  our 
line  pressed  to  the  right  it  slowly  closed  upon  the  left  flank 
of  the  rebel  line,  threatening  to  turn  it,  when  suddenly 
General  Hurlbut,  with  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps,  appeared 
upon  their  right,  and  in  a  twinkling  they  mounted,  and 
moved  like  a  whirlwind  through  the  yet  open  space  to  the 
south,  and  escaped.  One  gun,  a  fine  rifled  Parrot,  was 
captured.  That  was  the  last  we  seen  of  them  this  side  of 
Pearl  River.  Resuming  our  march  we  reached  Jackson. 
General  Force  occupied  Jackson  with  the  First  Brigade  the 
same  night.  Early  the  next  morning  the  Seventy-Eighth 
entered  Jackson,  served  as  provost  guard,  and  made  their 
headquarters  in  the  State  capitol  building.  On  the  7th  we 
crossed  Pearl  river,  passed  through  and  encamped  one  mile 
oast  of  Brandon.  On  the  8th  we  reached  Morton.  After 
destroying  the  railroad  and  depots,  together  with  a  large 
quantity  of  public  stores,  we  went  to  Hillsboro,  and  at  that 
place  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  was  fired  upon  by  a  band 
of  Mississippi  State  cavalry,  without  inflicting  any  damage 
to  the  Corps.  A  volley  from  our  men  scattered  them  with 
a  loss  of  thirteen  on  their  side.  A  Lieutenant  of  cavalry, 
(rebel)  was  shot  next  morning  near  our  picket  line.  I  can 
not  now  detail  our  march  from  this  point ;  suffice  it  to  say 
that  we  went  steadily  forward,  passing  several  places  where 
the  rebels  had  commenced  to  throw  up  earth  works,  but 
after  digging  awhile  they  changed  their  minds,  and  retreated 
again.  We  went  so  close  upon  them  that  their  fires  were 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    Y.    I.  2GO 

still  burning  as  we  came  to  their  camps.  Broken  wagons, 
dead  horses  and  mules,  and  the  thousand  things  that  sol 
diers  throw  away  when  hard  pressed,  were  to  he  found 
strewed  along  the  road. 

Passing  through  Deeatur,  we  finally  reached  the  Little 
rhunkey  river,  and  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  Big 
Chunkey,  where  there  was  a  splendid  position  and  where  it 
was  expected  the  rebels  would  give  us  battle.  Far  from 
it  —  they  destroyed  the  bridge,  and  felled  trees  across  the 
road  to  obstruct  us,  and  fell  back,  and  we  repaired  the 
bridges,  removed  the  obstructions  and  went  on. 

The  train  of  the  two  Army  Corps  was  left  at  Chunkey 
river  well  guarded,  and  the  army  went  to  Meridian.  The 
work  of  destroying  the  railroads  and  Confederate  property, 
was  pursued  with  diligence,  north,  south  and  cast.  We 
spent  one  day  in  Meridian,  and  then  the  Second  Brigade 
was  ordered  to  destroy  the  railroad  from  Meridian  to 
Chunkey  river,  which  was  done  most  effectually.  The 
track  was  torn  up,  and  the  ties,  with  the  rails  laid  across 
them,  were  fired,  several  miles  of  trestle-work,  the  bridges 
across  Okattibbee  and  Chunkey  rivers,  with  three  large 
mills,  two  locomotives,  five  cars,  and  quantities  of  cotton 
and  cotton  seed,  were  burned.  The  Thirty-Second  Ohio 
went  down  the  river  about  three  miles  to  Chunkeyville,  and 
destroyed  much  Confederate  property  there.  Having  com 
pleted  our  work,  we  marched  to  the  Army  Corps'  camp 
and  remained  until  morning. 

We  then  formed  a  foraging  expedition,  and  went  north 
about  ten  miles  and  captured  a  notorious  rebel  by  the  name 
of  Davis  —  burned  his  mill,  and  brought  off  corn,  meat, 
and  forage  enough  to  load  the  whole  train,  and  were 
followed  back  by  a  number  of  families,  refugees.  From 
this  point  refugees  and  contrabands  continued  to  pour  in, 
in  great  numbers,  until  our  train  became  immense.  On 
our  return  we  pursued  the  same  route  we  had  traveled  to 
llillsboro.  We  then  took  the  route  to  Canton,  and  by 
the  masterly  manner  in  which  the  whole  expedition  \va* 


270  HISTORY   OF   THE     , 

conducted,  took  the  country  by  surprise.  On  our  way 
down,  a  wag  in  the  ranks  put  a  placard  on  his  hat,  on 
which  was  inscribed  "  Mobile  or  hell,"  and  the  people  along 
the  road  spread  the  news  that  the  Yankees  were  coming  in 
countless  numbers,  and  that  we  were  bound  for  Mobile,  and 
such  a  panic  was  never  known  in  Dixie. 

General  Polk  caught  the  alarm,  and  when  Wirt  Adams 
would  have  fought  us  (and  got  splendidly  whipped.)  ordered 
him  to  retreat,  and  kept  the  rebels  retreating  until  he 
crossed  the  Tombigbee  river  before  he  showed  signs  of 
fight. 

At  Canton  we  captured  and  destroyed  twenty-one  first 
class  locomotives,  hundreds  of  pairs  of  car  wheels,  many 
cars,  and  an  immense  amount  of  Confederate  machinery 
and  stores.  The  railroad  was  thoroughly  destroyed  from  a 
point  about  midway  between  Grenada  and  Canton,  to  a 
distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles,  toward  Jackson. 

At  Canton  the  Thirty-Second  Ohio  and  Thirtieth  Illinois, 
with  two  other  Illinois  regiments,  were  detailed,  and 
Colonel  Potts,  of  the  Thirty-Second,  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  them,  with  orders  to  conduct  the  rebel  pris 
oners  (of  which  we  had  about  two  hundred,)  the  refugees 
and  contrabands  to  Yicksburg.  The  train  started  and 
went  but  a  few  miles  when  we  heard  of  the  repulse  of 
General  Smith's  cavalry,  and  that  it  had  returned  to  Mem 
phis;  also  that  Forrest  was  sweeping  down  upon  us. 
Colonel  Wiles,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth,  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  Second  Brigade,  consisting  of  the  Twentieth, 
Sixty-Eighth  and  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  and  ordered  to 
escort  Colonel  Potts'  train  until  it  met  the  supply  train, 
which  was  on  its  way  out  from  Yicksburg.  We  marched  out 
about  two  miles,  and  were  nearly  prepared  to  rest,  previous 
to  receiving  the  orders,  w^hich  came  in  the  evening.  Then 
we  went  out  the  Brownsville  road  about  three  miles,  and 
again  prepared  our  beds,  but  before  AVC  could  use  them  we 
were  ordered  to  the  front,  and  went  farther  out  the  road, 
with  instructions  to  lie  behind  a  high  fence,  and  there  we 
were  until  morning. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  271 

"\Vhcn  the  morning  came  we  started,  and  after  traveling 
eleven  miles,  met  the  supply  train,  and  facing  about  .we 
retraced  our  steps,  escorting  the  supply  train  to  Canton. 
After  a  night  in  the  rain  the  two  Corps  took  up  their  line 
of  march  for  Yickshurg.  On  the  evening  that  we  entered 
Canton,  the  Seventy-Eighth  encamped  within  a  mile  of  the 
town,  in  an  open  field.  Company  B,  with  others,  had  served 
through  the  day  as  pioneers,  and  their  guns  and  traps  were 
put  in  a  wagon.  Some  of  the  guns  were  loaded  but  not 
capped.  "When  the  regiment  stopped  for  the  night,  the 
wagon  came  up  with  the  guns,  and  the  boys  were  taking 
their  guns  as  fast  as  they  could  reclaim  them.  Private 
Lewis  Moore,  becoming  impatient  at  the  delay,  and  seeing 
his  gun  under  others,  seized  and  pulled  it  toward  him,  when 
it  discharged  its  contents,  striking  him  in  the  breast  arid 
killing  him  instantly.  The  bullet  passed  through  him  and 
entering  the  breast  of  private  John  Skinnen,  who  was 
standing  behind  him,  passed  nearly  through  him,  and 
lodged  deep  under  the  muscles  of  the  back,  from  which 
point  I  extracted  it.  He  lived  about  twenty  minutes  only. 
Thus  suddenly  passed  from  earth  two  brave  and  faithful 
soldiers,  by  an  accident,  who  had  escaped  death  upon  the 
battle-field  where  bullets  rained  like  a  leaden  shower.  They 
came  into  the  service  together,  messed  together,  were 
always  on  duty  together,  marched  side  by  side,  and  were  by 
the  same  bullet  hurried  into  eternity.  We  buried  them  side 
by  side  with  military  honors  in  the  quiet  grave-yard  in 
Canton,  built  a  fence  around  their  grave,  planted  an  ever 
green  at  their  head,  and  left  them.  The  accident  happened 
on  the  26th  of  February,  and  they  were  buried  on  the  27th. 

Our  march  from  Canton  was  a  pleasant  one,  for  officers 
and  men  were  in  tine  spirits.  AVre  reached  the  Bakocheto 
on  the  second  night  and  slept  upon  the  field  over  which  onr 
Brigade  skirmished  in  the  Brownsville  expedition.  A  body 
of  rebel  cavalry  followed  us  from  Canton,  and  shelled  our 
rear,  but  were  cautious  enough  to  keep  so  far  behind  that 
not  a  shot  reached  our  rear  guard.  At  the  Backocheto  we 


:;<:;  HISTORY  OF  THE 

expected  an  attack,  as  the  ground  favored  the  rebels,  but 
they  left  us  there  and  went  off  to  the  right,  and  were  prob 
ably  a  part  of,  or  may  be  the  force  that  attacked  our  men 
at  Yazoo  city.  Passing  through  Brownsville  we  pursued 
the  road  to  Edward's  depot,  passed  one  night  on  the  way, 
and  on  the  next  day  (March  4th)  by  a  march  of  twenty-five 
miles  we  crossed  Black  river  and  arrived  at  Yicksburg. 

I  would  like  to  tell  you  of  the  country  we  passed 
through,  its  level  lands  and  swamps,  its  hills  and  vales,  and 
its  lofty  pines,  of  our  foraging  expeditions,  and  how  we 
subsisted  upon  the  country,  of  the  meat,  the  hams  and 
poultry,  turkies,  chickens,  and  ducks,  sheep,  goats,  hogs 
and  beef  cattle,  that  we  despoiled  the  enemy  of,  and  to 
describe  how  myriad  fires  at  night  from  the  burning  of  pine 
knots,  made  the  country  look  like  one  vast  smithy,  such  as 
we  miffht  1'ancv  Vulcan  wrought  in.  And  we  became  so 

C™1  v  O 

begrimed  with  soot,  that  since  our  return,  the  Mississippi 
even  with  the  most  diligent  application  will  scarcely  suffice 
to  wash  it  away. 

The  papers  are  full  of  statements  relative  to  Sherman's 
expedition,  the  most  of  them  being  false,  and  many -of  them 
unjust.  General  Sherman  carried  out  his  orders,  and  exe 
cuted  them  all,  and  would  have  accomplished  more,  but  he 
was  by  his  orders  bound  to  return  to  Vicksburg,  and  did  do 
it;  and  so  prompt  has  he  been,  and  so  untiring,  that  he 
remained  in  Vicksburg  but  a  short  time,  and  by  the  time 
we  arrived  here,  General  Sherman  was  six  hundred  miles 
from  Vicksburg,  arranging  other  important  movements 
which  had  been  entrusted  to  him,  of  which  you  will  hear 
a  good  account  in  due  time. 

Much  praise  is  due  to  Generals  Ilurlbut  and  McPherson 
for  the  masterly  manner  in  which  they  managed  their  seve 
ral  Corps  during  the  expedition.  Where  all  did  well  it 
would  seem  wrong  to  particularize,  but  from  the  fact  that 
the  Third  Division  had  a  large  share  of  work  assigned  it 
thus  gives  prominence  to  its  leading  officers.  I  cannot  but 
note  that  General  Leggett  was  the  working  officer  of  the 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I,  273 

expedition  —  now  in  the  front,  then  in  the  rear,  as  our  col 
umn  seemed  to  be  most  threatened  ;  he  was  ever  active  and 
busy.     General  Force,    of  the   First    Brigade,    performed 
important  duties  at  Clmnkey  Station,  skirmishing  with  the 
enemy  and  destroyed  a  large  amount  of  rebel  property  at 
that   point.     Colonel    AViles,   of  the    Seventy-Eighth,  was 
placed   in   command  of  the    Second   Brigade,   and    estab 
lished  his   entire    ability  as   Brigade  Commander,  for   lie 
went  at  it  like  a  veteran.     Tell  the  people  that  Sherman's 
expedition    to    Alabama    was     a     glorious     success.        It 
destroyed  one  hundred  and  sixty  miles  of  railroad  so  effec 
tually   that  it  cannot  be  used  again    during   the   war.     It 
destroyed  between  twenty  and   thirty  locomotives  and  all 
the  cars  upon  the  roads.     It  destroyed  every  station  from 
Jackson,  Mississippi,  to  Alabama,  at  Meridian  and  beyond, 
together  with  all  depots,  and  public  property  of  all  kinds. 
It  destroyed  all  the  cotton  on  both  sides  of  the  route,  for 
from  three  to  ten  miles  into  the  country.     It  destroyed  the 
arsenals   and  machine   shops   at    Meridian,  with    a    large 
quantity  of  arms  and  munitions  of  war,    and   stores  of  all 
kinds.     It  released  thousands  of  Union  men  and   women, 
who,  as  refugees  came  back  with  the  expedition.     It  drove 
before  it  the  entire  military  force  of  the   Confederates  from 
Champion  Hills  to  a  point  beyond   the    Tombigbce   river, 
and  extorted  from  the  rebel  press  an  acknowledgement  at 
their  inability  to   hold,   and   that  they    must   abandon  all 
Mississippi  west  of  Pearl  river.     It  foraged  the  country  and 
found  corn,  pork,  beef  and  forage  of  all  kinds  in  abundance, 
also  horses  and  mules  in   great  numbers   to   replace  those 
which  gave  out  or  were  killed.     It   damaged   the    Confed 
erate  cause  in  the  sum  of  between  three  and  four  hundred 
millions  of  dollars.     We  were  gone  thirty-one  days,  and  the 
sickness  in  the  Seventy-Eighth  averaged  four  men  per  day 
only,  and  on  deaths,  save  from  casualties  in  battle  and  the 
two  by  accident. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  was  always  in    demand, 

and  did  a  large  share  of  the  work  of  the  expedition.     Xo 
18 


274  HISTORY   OF   THE 

regiment  in  the  service  is  better  drilled,  more  patient  or 
enduring;  no  other  regiment  stands  higher  in  the  estima 
tion  of  the  Army  Corps  and  Division  officers.  Patriotic, 
faithful,  bravo  arid  true  as  steel,  it  has  made  an  enviable 
record.  From  first  to  last,  Company  E  has  maintained  a 
higher  rank,  as  a  prompt  and  faithful  company,  second  to 
none  in  the  regiment.  Morgan  county  may  well  be  proud 
of  it.  During  the  entire  march  to  Meridian  and  back, 
with  all  its  side  marches  and  foraging  expeditions,  making1 
in  the  aggregate  over  four  hundred  miles  of  travel,  the 
Seventy-Eighth  had  fewer  men  in  ambulances,  or  riding 
•upon  mules,  horses,  or  the  wagons,  than  any  other 
regiment  in  both  Army  Corps. 

We  hope  to  bo  able  to  start  for  Ohio  Boon,  (about  the 
20th,)  but  may  not  get  off  so  soon,  as  it  is  difficult  to  procure 
transportation  for  the  many  veteran  troops  that  are  to  go 
home  on  furlough.  I  would  like  to  write  more,  but  time 
forbids,  and  my  letter  has  already  become  lengthy. 

Yours  truly,  JAMES  8.  REEVES, 

Surgeon  Seventy -Eighth  Regiment  0,  Y»L  • 


HOME  OX  VETERAN  FURLOUGH. 

THE   MARCH    TO   ATLANTA — BATTLES   AND    SIEGE   OF   ATLANTA. 

The  regiment  left  Vicksburg  March  20,  for  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  it  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  27th,  after  a 
long,  weary,  tiresome  ride.  The  true  soldier  felt  indignant 
at  Columbus  —  no  accommodations  provided,  no  welcome 
extended,  but  received  coldly,  and  very  much  as  a  rebel 
city  of  the  South.  What  a  contrast  between  Indianapolis 
and  Columbus.  When  we  reached  the  former  a  del 
egation  of  citizens  received  us  and  had  a  good  warm  sup- 
per  already  prepared ;  but  when  we  reached  the  capital  of 
our  own  State  there  was  no  manifestation  of  either  respect 
or  interest,  except  so  far  as  to  fleece  the  soldier  out  of  the 
small  amount  of  money  he  might  have. 

April  5th  the  regiment  arrived  at  Zanesville,  where  it  was 
welcomed  in  a  grand  reception  and  rich  supper  by  the  citi^ 
zens.  The  conduct  of  the  brave  men  of  the  Seventy-Eighth 
was  highly  spoken  of  by  all.  It  was  commonly  remarked 
that  the  men  were  more  orderly,  more  gentlemanly  and 
upright  in  their  general  deportment  than  others.  Captains 
of  transports,  who  were  transporting  troops  almost  every 
trip,  say  they  always  knew  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  by 
its  quiet  and  orderly  deportment. 

When  at  home  only  two  soldiers  were  known  to  have 
died.  Caleb  Wiseman,  of  Company  E,  and  Alexander 
McGregor,  of  Company  C,  both  brave  and  faithful  men, 
who  have  gone  to  their  reward  after  much  hard  service. 


276  HISTORY   OF  THE 

May  6th  the  regiment  started  to  Cairo,  for  duty  in 
another  department,  and  there  entered  upon  the  most 
trying  duties  of  their  military  career. 

At  Cairo  the  Seventeenth  Corps  concentrated,  where  it 
remained  one  day,  and  then,  under  command  of  General 
Frank  Blair,  einharked  on  "boats  and  passed  up  the  Ten 
nessee  river  to  Clifton,  where  it  remained  over  Sabbath. 

The  morning  of  the  16th  the  long  march  overland, 
across  Tennessee,  Northern  Alabama,  and  into  the  heart  of 
Georgia,  was  commenced.  Tennessee  was  respected  as  a 
loyal  State ;  no  foraging  was  allowed,  not  even  a  garden  or 
henroost  was  disturbed.  The  march  was  the  longest  and 
most  severe  one  the  men  had  ever  made,  but  they  stood  it 
well ;  they  plodded  on  without  a  murmur,  through  choking 
dust,  and  also  through  rain  and  mud,  wading  creeks  and 
rivers,  and  resting  at  night  without  shelter  from  the  dew 
and  rain,  their  weary  limbs  and  backs  aching  under  the 
weight  of  the  knapsacks,  arms  and  traps. 

No  enemy  was  seen  or  heard  of  until  we  arrived  at 
Decatur,  Alabama.  Here  our  cavalry  had  quite  a  heavy 
light,  and  did  much  damage  to  the  enemy,  killing  and  cap- 
taring  several  officers  and  many  privates. 

Alter  we  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  the  march  through 
Northern  Alabama  to  Rome,  Georgia,  was  one  of  great 
interest  and  variety.     The  towns  from  Decatur  to  Rome  are 
poor,   shabby  wrecks.     The  country  poor,  and  the  people 
most  generally  conforming  to  the  character  of  the  country ; 
poor  temporally,  and  still  poorer  intellectually  and  spirit 
ually.     Few  slaves  were  seen,  the  country  not  being  adapted 
to  that  species  of  Southern  property.     We  therefore  met 
with  many  Union  people,  claiming  to  be  loyal ;  many   of 
them  had  been  terrible  sufferers  from  the   exactions  and 
cruel  conscriptions  of  the  Confederacy,  and  the  "  rich  man's 
war  and  poor  man's  fight."     "We  conversed  with  several 
poor  families  whose  husbands  and  fathers  had  been  killed 
by  the  dogs  or  shot  by  the  conscriptor.     Some  men  we  saw 
disabled  for  life  in  this  way,  and  many  had  not  yet  recov 
ered  from  wounds 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I. 


077 


The  march  was  over  the  Sand  and  Lookout  ranges  of 
mountains,  which  many  poor  people  inhabit  in  the  most 
destitute  condition.  How  they  lived  seemed  a  great  mys 
tery.  The  army  passing  was  a  great  terror  to  them,  and 
we  regret  to  say,  many  of  them  were  robbed  and  plundered 
of  everything;  but  frequently  many  were  fed  and  cared  for. 
We  witnessed  many  instances  of  poverty,  destitution  and 
distress  that  stirred  all  the  tender  sensibilities  of  humanity. 

When  we  reached  the  top  of  Sand  mountains  and  gazed 
across  to  the  Lookout  range  rising  in  the  distance  before  us, 
mountain  piled  upon  mountain  ;  the  majesty  of  the  scene 
no  pen  can  describe,  no  imagination  can  fully  grasp  its  sub 
limity. 

When  on  the  top  of  Lookout,  we  could  hear  the  cannon 
ading  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  at  a  distance  of 
seventy  miles,  then  engaged  in  a  severe  battle  near  Lost 
Mountain. 

The  march  was  well  conducted  by  Generals  Blair  and 
Leggett,  marching  twelve  thousand  men  over  these  moun 
tains  at  the  rate  of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  per  day,  with  all 
the  artillery  and  trains,  was  certainly  an  exhibition  of  much 
energy  and  military  ability. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  went  through  without  loss,  or 
scarcely  a  murmur.  Seldom  was  one  found  in  the  ambu 
lances. 

We  arrived  at  Koine  June  5th,  where  we  begin  to  see 
some  of  the  marks  of  war,  and  the  nature  of  the  cam 
paign  before  us. 

Itome  is  situated  on  the  Coosa  river,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
beautiful  and  rich  country.  Before  the  war  it  had  a  popu 
lation  of  three  thousand,  but  all  the  wealthy  have  fled 
before  our  army,  leaving  well  situated  and  comfortable 
homes.  This  place  was  afterward  chosen  for  general  hos 
pital  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  on  account  of  its 
healthy  locality  and  excellent  water,  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  were  sent  from  the  front  to  this 
place.  Here  was  located  a  large  armory,  where  was  raanu- 


278  HISTORY  or  THE 

factufed  a  large  quantity  of  munitions  of  war;  this  the 
rebels  burned  when  they  evacuated  the  place.  Much  of  the 
city  was  destroyed  when  General  Sherman  evacuated  nil 
these  posts  and  commenced  his  march  to  the  sea.  It  con 
tained  several  beautiful  churches,  a  court  house  and  female 
seminary,  also  many  fine  dwellings  and  commodious  busi 
ness  houses. 

We  pushed  on  the  next  morning  toward  the  front,  which 
was  then  at  Ackworth.  The  march  was  over  one  continu 
ous  battle-field.  The  country  is  deserted,  the  crops  all 
destroyed  and  fine  plantations  dug  over  in  the  erection  of 
fortifications  by  both  armies.  We  reached  Ackworth  June 
8th,  where  we  took  our  position  on  the  left,  in  our  old  place 
in  the  Army  of  Tennessee.  We  are  now  in  battle  line, 
ready  to  move  upon  the  enemy. 

On  the  10th  we  moved  forward,  the  whole  army  advanc 
ing.  We  encountered  the  enemy's  pickets  at  Big  Shanty, 
where  we  commenced  skirmishing  with  them.  They  fell 
back  to  the  base  of  Xenesaw  Mountains,  and  our  troops 
immediately  commenced  buiMing  a  parallel  line  of  works. 

Bay  by  day  our  forces  advanced,  taking  the  works  of  the 
enemy,  until  they  were  driven  to  the  top  of  the  mountains. 
The  Seventeenth  Corps  soon  took  all  the  hills  to  the  left  of 
Mount  Kenesaw.  In  the  morning  the  enemy  had  them ; 
by  noon  the  Third  Division  under  General  Leggett  had 
possession  of  them,  and  our  skirmishers,  under  command 
of  Captain  Wallar,  captured  a  wagon  load  of  corn  bread, 
which  drove  into  the  Seventy-Eighth,  not  discovering  the 
mistake  till  too  late.  Our  boys  thanked  the  teamster  arid 
commissary-sergeant  for  their  kindness,  as  they  were  quite 
hungry  for  corn  bread. 

The  greatest  privation  our  soldiers  enduied  at  this  time 
was  the  lack  of  sufficient  rations.  At  one  time  the  mew 
were  three  days  without  anything  to  eat,  and  all  this  tim^ 
night  and  day  were  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  gradu 
ally  pushing  them  before  them. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  27!* 

"While  advancing  and  making  a  charge  upon  the  enemy's 
lines,  the  Seventy-Eighth  had  three  officers  (Captain 
McCarty,  Captain  Robinson  and  Captain  Gillespie) 
wounded,  and  Sergeant  Starr,  of  Company  I,  killed. 
The  latter  \vaa  a  young  man  of  sterling  worth  and  integ 
rity.  There  was  no  better  young  man  in  the  regiment. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  suffered  comparatively  little  loss  in. 
all  this  fighting,  which  is  to  he  attributed  to  the  careful  and 
skillful  management  b}T  Colonel  G.  F.  Wiles,  who  knew 
just  the  time  to  strike,  and  how  to  do  it,  and  the  men  being 
veterans  knew  well  how  to  meet  successfully  every  move- 
merit  of  the  enemy.  Their  promptness  and  celerity  of 
movements  shielded  them  from  many  a  deadly  missile. 

July  2d  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps  left  their  position 
and  marched  about  fifteen  miles  to  the  right.  This  move 
ment  was  successful  in  causing  the  enemy  to  evacuate  the 
mountains  and  retreat  near  the  Chattahoochie  river.  At 
Xickajack  creek  we  encountered  the  enemy,  and  severe 
skirmishing  ensued  for  several  days.  Finally  our  forces 
were  successful  in  taking  the  rebel  works,  and  driving  the. 
enemy  across  the  Chattahoochie  river.  The  Seventy-Eighth 
was  wonderfully  spared,  not  having  any  killed  and  only  i\, 
few  wounded. 

On  the  16th  the  Corps  again  mox  ed  to  the  extreme  left 
of  our  army,  and  crossed  the  river  i;b  >ve  the  rebel  lines, 
which  was  successful  in  Hanking  the  enemy  and  cau  ing 
them  to  retreat  to  their  inner  lines  around  the  city.  The 
Third  Division  took  possession  of  Decatur,  and  destroyed 
the  railroad,  cutting  oft"  their  communication  with  Augusta. 
This  was  a  serious  misfortune  to  the  enemy. 

The  army  then  closed  in  within  cannon  range  of  the  city 
v>f  Atlanta,  and  the  Rodman  guns  of  the  Third  Division 
threw  their  shot  and  shell  into  the  heart  of  the  city.  Here 
took  place  one  of  the  most  bloody  dramas  of  the  war,  in 
which  General  McPherson  was  killed,  and  where  the  Sev 
enteenth  Corps  did  the  most  terrible  fighting,  encountering 
tke  great  part  of  the  rebel  army.  Here  the  Seventy- 


280  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Eighth  lo:,t  heavily,  (as  well  as  every  other  regiment  in  the 
Corps,)  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners. 

The  following  is  a  full  description  of  the  fight : 

THE    BATTLE    OF    THE    22D. 

BEFORE  ATLANTA,  GA.,  July  30,  1864. 

On  the  20th  inst.  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  advanced 
toward  Atlanta,  from  near  Decatur.  The  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps,  commanded  by  General  Logan,  on  the  line  of  the 
Augusta  Railroad,  the  Seventeenth,  commanded  by  General 
Blair,  on  the  left  of  the  railroad,  and  the  Sixteenth,  com 
manded  by  General  Dodge,  in  reserve.  When  the  day 
closed  Logan's  Corps,  the  Fifteenth,  was  near  the  enemy's- 
main  works  at  Atlanta.  Blair's  was  in  front  of  a  high  hill, 
strongly  occupied  by  the  enemy.  From  citizens  it  was 
learned  that  this  hill  overlooked  Atlanta,  and  was  in  short 
range  of  that  much  coveted  city.  The  noble  MePherson 
said,  u"We  must  have  that  hill."  General  Blair  directed 
General  M.  D.  Leggett,  commanding  Third  Division,  Sev 
enteenth  Army  Corps,  to  adjust  his  troops  so  as  to  charge 
and  take  the  hill  in  the  morning.  General  Leggett  did  as- 
commanded,  (he  always  does)  for  about  six  o'clock,  A.  M.y 
of  the  21st  hist.,  he  made  a  magnificent  charge,  in  the  face 
of  a  deadly  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  and  took  the  hill 
with  many  prisoners. 

In  a  few  minutes  he  had  artillery  in  position,  and  was. 
plavinff  vigorously  upon  Atlanta.  The  rebels  made  several 

1          »  O  CT>  «/  A 

vigorous  charges  to  retake  the  hill  during  the  day,  but 
without  success.  General  Leggett  lost  between  three  and 
four  hundred  men  in  the  charge,  and  inflicted  a  still  greater 
loss  upon  the  enemy.  The  Fourth  Division,  commanded 
by  General  G.  A.  Smith,  attempted,  also,  to  advance  with 
General  Leggett,  but  met  such  a  murderous  fire  of  artillery 
and  musketry  as  to  compel  him  to  iall  back  under  a  shel 
tering  ridge,  after  leaving  many  men  in  killed  and 
wounded.  During  the  day  of  the  21st,  General  Smith's 
Division  was  placed  in  position  to  the  left  of  General 
Leggett,  and  both  Divisions  thoroughly  entrenched  them- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  £81 

selves,  facing  toward  Atlanta.  The  enemy  was  discovered 
moving  toward  our  extreme  left,  (Smith's  Division  was  • 
now  on  our  extreme  left,)  and  the  Sixteenth  Army  Corps 
was  directed  to  take  up  position  so  as  to  protect  our  left 
flank.  The  Sixteenth  Army  Corps  was  moving  to  this 
position  on  the  22d,  but  had  not  reached  the  left  of 
General  Smith  by  about  three -fourths  of  a  mile,  when  the 
enemy  fell  upon  it  from  the  rear  in  heavy  force.  General 
Dodge  met  this  unexpected  onslaught  with  a  resistance  so 
vigorous  and  persistent  as  to  cause  the  rebels  soon  to  retire. 

The  enemy  were  as  much  surprised  to  find  General 
Dodge  where  he  was,  as  was  General  Dodge  at  being 
attacked.  The  enemy  expected  to  meet  no  obstruction 
from  the  rear  except  the  pickets  of  the  Seventeenth  Corps, 
and  did  not  meet  anything  else  in  the  gap  of  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  between  the  left  of  the  Seventeenth  and  right  of 
the  Sixteenth  Corps.  Through  this  gap  the  whole  of 
Ciaiborne's  Division  of  Ilardee's  Corps  passed  undis 
covered,  the  ground  being  covered  by  a  dense  forest.  The 
pickets  were  many  of  them  killed  or  captured,  and  the 
balance  followed  in  so  closely  as  to  be  able  to  give  but  little 
alarm.  The  enemy  rapidly  advanced  upon  the  rear  of 
General  Smith  and  Leggett.  It  was  the  advance  of  this 
force  that  shot  the  gallant  and  greatly  beloved  McPherson. 
The  enemy  first  struck  General  Smith's  Division  on  his 
extreme  left,  but  very  soon  were  upon  the  rear  of  both 
Third  and  Fourth  Divisions.  Generals  Leggett  and  Smith 
both  put  their  men  over  their  works,  and  met  the  enemy's 
mad  charge  with  a  terrible  volley  of  musketry.  The  enemy 
pushed,  however,  up  to  within  a  few  feet  of  our  works,  but 
were  finally  repulsed  with  a  slaughter  almost  unparalleled. 
They  fell  back,  reformed  their  lines  and  soon  came  up  again 
in  the  same  direction,  and  the  conflict  for  some  time  was  a 
hand  to  hand  combat,  the  bayonet  and  the  clubbed  musket 
were  freely  used,  and  the  enemy  again  repulsed,  leaving  tho 
ground  literally  carpeted  with  the  dead  and  wounded. 
After  a  quiet  of  a  few  minutes,  the  enemy,  a  part  of  Ilood's 


282  HISTORY   OF   THE 

old  Corps  (now  Stevenson's)  was  discovered  moving    upon 
us  from  the  front. 

Generals  Smith  and  Leggett  placed  their  men  to  the 
rear  of  the  works,  and  met  the  charge  with  the  same  deter 
mined  spirit  that  had  characterized  them  in  meeting  the 
former  onslaught.  The  enemy  came  with  deafening  yells, 
and  were  met  with  murderous  volleys,  and  again  success* 
fully  driven  back.  Again  they  rallied  and  forced  their 
way  up  to  our  works,  and  again  were  repulsed  with  great 
slaughter.  In  the  several  attacks  from  the  front  and  rear 
the  enemy  seemed  fully  impressed  with  the  belief  that  they 
would  not  only  repossess  themselves  of  Leggett's  hill,  but 
would  capture  both  his  and  Smith's  Division,  and  thus 
wipe  out  the  Seventeenth  Corps.  After  the  fourth  repulse, 
the  rebels  seem  to  have  concluded  that  Blair's  command 
could  not  be  captured,  and  so  turned  their  attention  to 
retaking  the  hill. 

For  this  purpose,  they  brought  in  a  fresh  Division, 
(Cheatham's)  of  Hardee's  Corps,  and  massed  upon  General 
Smith's  left  flank.  This  of  course  compelled  General 
Smith  to  change  his  front.  General  Blair  several  times 
sent  word  to  General  Leggett  that  it  was  all  important  to 
hold  the  hill,  and  General  Leggett  as  often  replied  "that  if 
the  Third  Division  were  driven  from  the  hill,  there  would 
not  be  enough  of  it  left  ever  to  tight  another  battle."  JJe 
was  constantly  passing  up  and  down  his  line,  cheering  his 
men,  and  exhorting  them  to  hold  the  hill  at  all  hazards,  and 
not  to  leave  it  while  a  man  was  left  to  pull  a  trigger.  He 
was  always  greeted  with  loud  cheers  from  his  men,  and  had 
thousands  of  promises  that  the  hill  should  be  held.  General 
Smith  was  no  less  vigilant,  and  though  almost  a  stranger 
in  his  command,  having  been  with  the  Division  but  two 
days,  had  already  won  the  admiration  of  his  officers  and 
men,  by  his  skill  and  bravery. 

In  the  change  of  front  it  was  necessary  to  take  the 
whole  of  the  Fourth  Division  and  the  Second  Brigade  of 
the  Third  Division  out  of  their  works,  and  though  greatly 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.   V.   I.  283 

fatigued  with  the  previous  fighting,  they  were  obliged  to 
meet,  without  protection,  the  advancing  column  of  the 
enemy's  fresh  troops.  All  who  witnessed  the  fighting  at 
this  time,  pronounce  it  the  most  desperate  they  ever  saw. 
The  fight  almost  immediately  became  a  hand-to-hand  con 
flict.  The  officers  became  engaged  with  their  swords,  and 
the  men  with  their  bayonets,  and  in  many  cases  even  with 
their  fists. 

The  heaviest  part  of  this  engagement  fell  on  the  Sixty- 
Eighth  and  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio;  but  they  stood  like 
rocks,  determined  to  die  or  conquer.  .  The  enemy  was  at 
last  repulsed  —  again  leaving  the  ground  covered  with  their 
slain. 

In  the  midst  of  this  engagement,  while  to  all  others  the 
fate  of  the  day  seemed  to  hang  in  the  balance,  General 
Blair  sent  a  messenger  to  General  Leggett  to  enquire 
whether  he  thought  he  could  hold  the  hill.  General 
Leggett  coolly  replied:  u  Tell  General  Blair  the  hill  is  just 
as  safe  as  if  there  was  not  a  rebel  within  a  thousand  miles 
of  it."  He  had  many  times  seen  his  men  fight  before,  and 
he  knew  what  confidence  to  repose  in  them.  Had  either 
the  Sixty-Eighth  or  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  given  way  at  ;i 
single  point,  the  hill  would  have  been  lost,  and  perhaps  tlu> 
Army  of  the  Tennessee  with  it.  Too  much  praise  cannot 
be  awarded  to  Generals  Smith  and  Leggett  for  their  skill 
and  dauntless  courage  in  this  action. 

General  Leggett,  I  believe,  is  a  citizen  of  your  State,  and 
Ohio  may  well  be  proud  of  him,  for  a  truer,  steadier,  or  a 
braver  man  never  faced  an  enemy. 

General  M.  F.  Force,  who  commanded  the  First  Brigade 
of  Leggctt's  Division,  and  greatly  distinguished  himself  in 
the  charge  of  the  21st,  fell  severely  wounded  with  a  shot 
through  the  head,  early  in  the  fight  of  the  22d. 

The  rebels  got  off  a  large  portion  of  their  wounded 
during  the  fight.  The  next  day  the  enemy  sent  in  a  flag  of 
truce,  desiring  to  get  their  dead.  A  truce  of  one  hour,  on 
General  Leggett' s  front,  was  granted  for  that  purpose.  But 


284  HISTORY  OF   THE 

the  time  was  insufficient,.  General  Leggett  delivered  to  the 
enemy  and  buried  one  thousand  rebel  dead.  As  the  whole 
of  General  Smith's  Division  was  occupying  a  new  line,  the 
number  killed  by  his  Division  was  not  estimated  in  those 
counted  by  General  Leggett,  as  they  were  in  the  rebels' 
hands. 

The  battle  also  raged  to  considerable  extent  on  the  front 
of  the  Fifteenth  Corps,  but  the  Seventeenth  had  the  brunt 
of  the  light,  and  covered  itself  with  glory.  The  Corps  fully 
avenged  itself  for  the  killing  of  its  former  commander. 
The  old  Seventeenth  was  never  whipped.  The  Third  and 
Fourth  Divisions  have  fully  vindicated  the  lighting  reputa 
tion  of  the  Corps. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  suffered  very  severely;  have 
twenty-seven  killed,  one  hundred  wounded,  and  twenty 
taken  prisoners.  Captains  McCarty  and  Gillespie  were 
taken  prisoner. 

See  records  for  the  killed  and  wounded. 

AVe  have  obtained  permission  to  publish  the  following 
report  of  General  Leggett  on  the  battles  of  the  21st  and 
22d  of  July,  before  Atlanta : 

u  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVENTEENTH  A.  C.,  1 
BEFORE  ATLANTA,  GA.,  July  25th,  1864.      j 

COLONEL  A.  J.  ALEXANDER: 

Colonel:  —  My  constant  duties  on  the  line,  entrenching, 
fortifying  and  fighting,  has  necessitated  a  delay  in  making 
my  report  of  the  part  taken  by  my  Division  in  the  engage 
ments  of  the  21st  and  22d  insts.  until  the  present  time. 

In  pursuance  of  orders  from  Major-General  Blair  I  moved 
my  Division  upon  the  enemy's  works  on  the  hill  which  I 
now  gcciipy,  about  sunrise  on  the  21st  inst.  The  rebels 
made  a  stubborn  resistance,  but  my  command  moved  at  a 
quick-step  until  the  enemy  opened  fire,  and  then  struck  a 
double-quick  and  took  possession  of  their  works  and  several 
prisoners.  The  enemy  rallied  and  made  repeated  efforts  to 
drive  us  from  the  hill,  but  were  unsuccessful.  In  this  fight 
the  First  Brigade,  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  M.  F« 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.   V.   I.  285 

Force,  was  particularly  conspicuous,  and  did  great  honor  to 
themselves  and  the  cause  for  which  they  fought. 

Before  9  o'cleck,  A.  M.,  of  that  day  I  had  a  battery  in 
position,  and  threw  shells  into  Atlanta. 

During  the  day  the  enemy  were  discovered  moving  to 
the  left,  and  the  Fourth  Division  moved  to  and  took  posi 
tion  on  my  left ;  and  our  flanks  were  as  well  guarded  by 
pickets  and  outposts  as  possible  in  our  position  with  our 
limited  force.  The  balance  of  the  day  and  the  following 
night  were  used  in  entrenching  and  fortifying. 

About  noon  of  the  22d  I  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
got  in  our  rear,  and  were  engaging  the  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps,  while  making  efforts  to  close  up  the  left  of  our. 
Corps,  while  still  a  gap  of  half  a  mile  on  the  left  of  the 
Fourth  Division  was  only  guarded  by  a  skirmish  line.  The 
enemy  broke  through  this  gap,  and  in  a  few  minutes  came 
in  a  heavy  force  (Cheathanrs  Division  of  Ilardee's  Corps) 
"upon  my  rear,  moving  over  the  same  ground  and  in  the 
same  direction  I  had  come  the  day  before.  I  immediately 
put  my  men  upon  the  other  side  of  the  works,  their  facop 
to  the  cast  and  backs  toward  Atlanta.  The  enemy  came 
upon  us  with  demoniac  yells,  but  were  met  with  a  cool, 
deliberate  and  well  aimed  fire,  that  soon  checked  their 
advance,  caused  them,  to  stagger  and  then  retire  in  confu 
sion.  Those  who  reached  our  works  were  made  prisoners. 

They  soon  rallied,  re-formed,  and  again  advanced  upon 
us  in  the  same  direction  and  with  the  same  results.  Jn 
these  two  attacks  they  were  punished  very  severely,  leaving 
a  very  large  number  of  killed  and  wounded  on  the  ground. 

A  lull  of  some  twenty  minutes  occurred  at  this  time,  after 
which  our  skirmishers  toward  Atlanta  wore'  driven  in, 
followed  closely  by  a  heavy  force  which  advanced  with 
yells.  My  men  were  placed  upon  the  east  side  of  their 
works,  and  met  the  charge  as  they  had  the  others,  and 
repulsed  the  rebels  beautifully. 

They  were  rallied  and  again  advanced,  and  wero  again 
repulsed. 


286  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Soon  a  heavy  column  (Cheatham's  Division  of  Hardee'a 
Corps)  moved  directly  upon  the  left  flank  of  the  Fourth 
Division,  which  compelled  it  to  change  front  and  leave  its 
works.  As  the  approaching  column  advanced  in  the 
vicinity  of  my.  left,  I  caused  the  Third  Brigade  of  my 
command  to  follow  the  movements  of  the  Fourth  Division, 
but  with  the  positive  injunction  that  the  hill  must  be  retained 
at  all  hazards,  at  whatever  cost. 

The  Second  Brigade  was  then  formed  with  its  right  rest 
ing  upon  the  hill,  and  the  left  upon  the  Fourth  Division, 
facing  south.  This  change  of  front  was  executed  under  a 
heavy  lire  of  musketry,  and  of  grape  and  canister  and  in 
the  face  of  a  rapidly  advancing  force  of  fresh  troops,  com 
posed  probably  of  the  enemy's  best  fighting  men, 
(Cheatham's  Division.)  Our  men  were  greatly  fatigued 
with  about  four  hours  hard  fighting,  and  were  now  obliged 
to  meet  the  enemy  in  the  open  field,  without  protection  of 
any  kind  whatever,  except  a  portion  of  the  First  Brigade 
on  the  hill.  In  this  part  of  the  day  our  troops  showed 
their  true  soldierly  qualities.  They  stood  like  rocks  of 
adamant,  and  received  the  repeated  charges  of  the  enemy 
without  yielding  an  inch.  The  engagement  here  became 
finally  a  hand-to7hand  fi^ht,  the  sword,  the  bayonet,  and 
even  the  u  fists,"  were  freely  and  effectually  used,  and  the 
enemy  repulsed  with  a  slaughter  I  never  before  witnessed. 
This  conflict  ended  the  day.  My  officers  and  rnen  behaved 
with  determined  bravery. 

My  losses  were  heavy,  and  in  some  respects  particularly 
unfortunate  and  embarrassing.  At  the  very  commence 
ment  of  the  action,  even  before  a  shot  had  been  fired  from 
my  line,  Colonel  It.  K.  Scott,  commanding  my  Second 
Brigade,  was  captured  by  the  enemy  while  returning  to 
his  command  from  a  detached  regiment ;  and  during  the 
first  attack,  both  Brigadier-General  M.  F.  Force,  and  the 
Adjutant  General,  Captain  J.  B.  AValker,  fell  severely 
wounded.  These  officers  occupying  the  position  they  did, 
&nd  having  the  entire  confidence  of  their  commands,  could 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  287 

not  bo  spared  without  great  detriment  to  the  Division. 
This  was  particularly  the  case  with  Brigadier-General  M. 
F.  Force,  whose  coolness,  sagacity  and  bravery  had  long 
since  won  the  admiration  of  the  whole  Division,  and 
always  inspired  the  men  with  confidence  and  enthusiasm. 

The  Batteries  of  Artillery  in  my  Division,  the  Third 
Ohio,  Battery  "  D,"  First  Illinois,  and  Battery  "  II,"  First 
Michigan,  did  very  efficient  service  during  all  of  these  suc 
cessive  engagements,  and  their  officers  and  men  showed 
great  skill  and  determined  bravery.  Captain  W.  S, 
Williams,  Third  Ohio  Battery,  my  Chief  of  Artillery,  is 
entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  coolness  and  skill  displayed 
in  adjusting  and  using  his  batteries,  and  in  saving  them 
when  exposed. 

Especial  notice  is  also  due  to  Colonel  George  E.  Bryant, 
Twelfth  Wisconsin,  who  assumed  command  of  the  First 
Brigade,  when  General  Force  fell,  and  to  Lieutenant  Col 
onel  G.  F.  Wiles,  Seventy-Eighth  0.  V.  V.  I,  who  took 
command  of  the  Second  Brigade.  These  officers,  though 
taking  command  after  the  battle  commenced,  displayed 
great  skill  and  coolness.  Captain  G.  D.  Munson,  my  picket 
officer,  was  very  efficient  in  the  management  of  the  skir 
mishers  until  drawn  in,  and  in  acting  as  Aid  during  the 
balance  of  the  time.  My  Aids,  Lieutenants  A.  W.  Stewart 
and  George  W.  Porter,  Captain  J.  C.  Douglass,  A.  A.  G., 
Lieutenant  W.  II.  Ilessin,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  and  Major  John  T. 
Kainey,  A.  A.  I.  G.,  all  displayed  great  coolness  and  bravery 
in  collecting  information  and  delivering  orders,  and  Lieu- 
tenant  V.  Warner,  Ordnance  Officer,  for  his  skill  in  saving 
his  train,  and  his  promptness  in  keeping  the  command  sup 
plied  with  ammunition. 

The  character  of  the  fight  was  such,  our  front  changing 
so  often  and  so  rapidly,  that  the  position  of  a  staff  officer 
was  more  than  usually  exposed,  yet  all  were  prompt  and 
efficient.  Lieutenant  Ilessin  fell  from  his  horse  severely 
wounded,  during  the  hitter  part  of  the  fight.  *  * 
"\\re  captured  about  four  hundred  prisoners,  and  from  less 


288  HISTOKY    OF   THK 

than  two-thirds  of  the  ground  fought  over  by  the  Division, 
buried  and  delivered  to  the  enemy  under  flag  of  truce, 
between  nine  hundred  and  one  thousand  dead  rebels.  I  am 
fully  confident  that  my  Division  killed  and  wounded  more 
rebels  than  I  had  men  engaged. 

I  am,  Colonel,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

[Signed]  M.  D.  LEGGETT, 

Brigadier-General." 


HISTORY    OF    CAPTAIN    W.    W.    McCARTY'S 
PRISOX  LIFE,   AKD  SOUTHERN  PRISONS. 

When  I  left  our  landing  at  McConnelsville  some  twelve 
months  ago,  accompanied  by  a  gallant  band  of  veterans,  to* 
rejoin  the  army  of  the  South- West,  I  but  little  dreamed  of 
all  the  vicissitudes  through  which  I  was  to  pass  before  I 
should  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  faces  of  my  friends 
again.  It  is  true,  from  an  experience  of  nearly  three  years 
in  the  field,  I  was  not  insensible  of  the  dangers  from  shot 
and  shell.  I  had  thought,  too,  of  the  diseases  of  a  sickly 
Southern  clime  ;  but  the  idea  of  becoming  a  captive  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  was  a  matter  which  had  not  for  a 
moment  engaged  my  attention.  But  that  Unseen  Power 
that  directs  the  affairs  of  men  as  well  as  of  nations  seemed 
to  decree  that  I  should  experience  the  realities  of  war  in  all 
its  variety. 

On  the  19th  day  of  July  the  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,, 
after  a  wearisome  march  through  a  portion  of  Tennessee,, 
Northern  Alabama,  and  across  the  Sandy  mountains  of 
Georgia,  a  distance  of  over  three  hundred  miles,  driving 
the  enemy  before  us,  we  arrived  within  a  few  miles  of 
Atlanta,  where  the  rebel  General  Hood  had  made  a  stand. 
On  the  morning  of  the  22d  we  were  attacked  on  the  left 
flank,  and  in  our  rear,  by  General  Hardee's  Corps,  that  had 
moved  out  the  night  before,  while  the  remaining  portion 
of  the  rebel  army  confronted  our  right.  We  were  SO.QII 

19 


290  HISTORY   OF  THE 

apprised  of  the  attack  by  General  Leggett,  who  rode  along 
our  line  in  person,  as  well  as  by  the  rattle  of  the  enemy's 
musketry,  and  frequent  visits  of  the  iron  messengers  sent 
from  the  rebel  "howitzers."  The  conflict  soon  became 
terrible,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  engagement  our  brave 
and  gallant  commander,  Major-General  McPherson,  fell, 
whieh  caused  for  a  time  great  consternation  among  our 
troops.  But  our  brave  boys  of  the  West  were  not  disposed 
to  let  the  rebels  achieve  a  victory.  They  fought  with  des 
peration. 

The  Seventy-Eighth,  under  command  of  Colonel  Wiles, 
was  occupying  a  line  of  breastworks  from  which  we  had 
driven  the  rebels  the  day  before.  These  works  we  were 
ordered  by  General  Leggett  to  hold.  Inspired  with  confi 
dence  in  our  gallant  Colonel,  nearly  every  man  in  the 
regiment  seemed  determined  to  see  the  order  carried  out  or 
die,  and  during  the  struggle  several  of  our  brave  boys  fell, 
some  of  them  to  rise  no  more.  We  nevertheless  held  the 
entrenchment  all  day,  but  were  compelled  to  change  front 
several  times  during  the  day,  repulsing  the  enemy  in  several 
heavy  charges.  About  half  an  hour  before  sun-down,  the 
rebels,  who  had  driven  the  Thirteenth  and  Eleventh  Iowa 
regiments,  and  got  possession  of  the  left  end  of  our  line  of 
works,  opened  a  heavy  artillery  lire,  raking  us  with  grape 
and  canister. 

At  this  time  Colonel  Wiles  was  in  command  of  the  Brig 
ade,  in  consequence  of  the  capture  of  CoJonel  Scott,  which 
had  taken  place  during  the  day.  Major  Raincy  was  there 
fore  placed  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Pursuant  to 
orders,  we  at  once  vacated  the  entrenchments  and  moved 
out  into  an  open  field  on  our  right.  Here  a  Brigade  of  the 
rebels,  of  General  Claiborne's  Division,  was  concealed  in  a 
dense  thicket  of  woods  near  by,  and  opened  a  terrific  fire 
upon  us.  We  had  nothing  to  protect  us,  and  the  rebel? 
being  in  close  range,  protected  by  tbe  woods,  had  every 
advantage.  I  saw  some  five  or  six  of  the  boys  of  mr 
company  shot  dead,  one  of  whom  was  in  touching  distance 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  201 

of  me.  The  regiment  commenced  to  fait  back,  \vhcu  the 
rebels  poured  out  of  the  woods  as  thick  as  blackbirds,  and 
commenced  making  prisoners  of  the  wounded.  Seeing  the 
regiment  receding,  I  gave  orders  to  my  company  to  fall 
back  with  the  balance  of  the  regiment,  and  stepped  back 
a  few  paces  to  what  had  now  become  our  rear,  to  look  after 
some  of  the  boys  who  were  but  slightly  wounded,  and 
whom  I  had  hoped  to  extricate  from  the  danger  of  being 
captured  by  the  rebels,  by  getting  them  to  fall  back  with 
the  company.  Unfortunately,  however,  I  attracted  the 
notice  of  the  rebels,  who  rallied  upon  me  with  furious  oaths, 
the  Captain  of  their  gang  giving  orders  to  "shoot  the 
<I  —  d  Yankee  rascaV  the  Captain  himself  rushing  upon 
me  with  a  nine-inch  navy  revolver  pointing  to  my  breast, 
and  demanding  my  surrender.  l>y  this  time  some  six 
muskets  were  pointing  toward  me,  the  holders  of  them 
awaiting  an  answer  which  I  was  a  little  slow  in  giving,  for, 
to  say  I  would  not  surrender,  I  knew  was  instant  death, 
and  to  acknowledge  a  surrender  was  one  of  the  most  pain 
ful  events  of  my  life.  On  a  little  deliberation  I  concluded 
my  life  might  yet  be  of  service  to  somebody,  and  thinking 
iit  the  "  better  part  of  valor,"  I  surrendered  with  a  "menta1 
reservation."  My  sword  was  the;\  demanded  by  the  rebel 
Captain,  who  took  hold  of  the  belt.  I  stepped  back  and 
commenced  to  quibble  with  him  about  his  rank,  as  he  had 
no  insignia  of  office,  and  remembering  an  admonition  of 
my  brother  the  day  of  leaving  Camp  Gilbert,  never  to  "dis 
honor  my  sword."  I  refused  to  comply  with  his  demand 
until  I  became  farther  satisfied  that  he  was  an  officer  of 
equal  rank.  By  this  time  Colonel  Wiles  had  arranged  our 
Brigade  in  a  position  to  repel  any  further  advance  of  tlh' 
rebels,  and  instantly  a  heavy  volley  of  musketry  nnd 
artillery  came  from  our  line,  which  frightened  my  captors* 
no  little,  and  taking  advantage  of  their  scare,  I  threw  my 
sword  as  far  as  I  could  send  it  in  the  direction  of  our  own 
line,  where  it  would  have  been  unhealthy  for  the  rebels  to 
undertake  to  get  it.  As  the  rebel  line  was  now  falling 


292  HISTOKY    OF   THE 

back  in  great  haste,  they  commenced  to  hurry  me,  together 
with  four  of  my  men  whom  they  had  also  captured,  off  the 
field. 

We  were  marched  to  General  Hardee's  headquarters, 
where  we  were  placed  under  a  detachment  of  Wheeler's, 
cavalry,  and  together  with  about  a  hundred  others  of  my 
own  Division,  were  marched  into  Atlanta  by  a  circuitous* 
route  of  about  fifteen  miles,  although  the  place  of  our 
capture  was  only  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  city. 

In  Atlanta  many  of  the  prisoners  were  robbed  of  their 
watches,  hats,  haversacks  and  rubber  blankets  by  the  rebel 
officers.     But  as  my  clothes  were  old  and  threadbare,  and 
my  appearance  rather  shabby,  they  concluded  I  was  not 
worth  robbing,    and   did   not   disturb  me  there.     On   the 
morning  of  the  21st  we  were  taken  to  East  Point,  a  station 
on  the  railroad  seven  miles  south  of  the  city,  and  ushered 
into  a  stockade,  with  about  two  thousand  other  prisoners 
that  had  been  captured  on  the  19th,  20th  and  22d.     Of  this 
number  some  three  hundred  were  officers,  among  whom 
were  Colonel  Shedd,  of  the  Thirtieth  Illinois,  Colonel  ,R.  K. 
Scott,  of  the  Sixty-Eighth  Ohio,  (my  Brigade  commander) 
Lieutenant-Colonel  C,  W.  Clancy,  of  the  Fifty-Second  Ohio, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sanders,  of  the  Sixteenth  Iowa,  Captaiu 
Gillespie   of   my   own  regiment,  and  many  others  of  my 
acquaintance.     We  were  kept  in  this  pen  until  the  25th, 
when  we  were  ordered  to  Macon,  a  distance  of  ninety-six 
miles   south.     Although   the   cars   were   running   through 
from  Atlanta  to  Macon,  the  rebel  officer  informed  us  we 
would  have  to  march  twenty  miles  of  the  way,  as  the  cars 
on  that  end  of  the  road  were  all  need  in  conveying  their 
wounded  to  the  rear,  and  transporting  supplies.     Feeling 
disinclined  to  do  any  marching  for  rebels,  I  told  the  rebel 
officer  if  he  wished  me  to  go  to  Macon  they  would  have  to 
carry  me  there,  as  I  was  unable  to  march.     lie  sent  Captain 
Gillespie   (who  also  became  indisposed)  and  myself  to  the 
surgeon,  who  excused  us  from  marching.     The  balance  of 
them  were  marched  off  in  the  morning,  and  wre  remained 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I,  293 

for  the  comirg  train*  We  spent  the  day  with  Major 
Deacon,  the  commander  of  the  post,  who  treated  us  very 
courteously,  and  invited  us  to  dine  with  him  at  his  quarters. 
One  of  the  rehel  guards  informed  me  that  when  I  would 
reach  Macon  I  would  probably  be  searched  for  money 
before  entering  the  prison.  In  the  evening  we  were  placed 
upon  the  cars  under  a  strong  guard  and  started  for  Macon. 
I  had  one  hundred  and  seven  dollars  in  greenbacks,  and 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  of  rebel  currency  in  my  pocket ; 
and  what  to  do  with  it  become  to  me  a  vexed  question,  as  I 
did  not  want  to  lose  it,  but  rather  than  let  it  fall  into  the 
rebels'  hands  I  would  have  torn  it  up.  I  at  length  concluded 
to  try  and  conceal  it,  as  none  of  them  had  yet  suspected  me 
of  having  any.  So  when  darkness  set  in,  and  the  guards 
became  a  little  careless  and  sleepy,  I  took  a  ball  of  yam 
which  I  carried  in  my  haversack  for  darning  my  socks,  and 
wrapped  it  neatly  around  the  folded  bills  and  placed  it  back 
again  along  with  my  pins,  needles,  etc.  And  true  enough 
when  we  arrived  at  Macon  the  first  thing  on  the  programme 
was  to  search  us  for  greenbacks.  They  turned  every 
pocket,  stripped  us  to  the  shirt  and  examined  us  from  head 
to  foot.  They  then  took  my  haversack  and  ransacked  it. 
As  the  officer  took  the  ball  of  yarn  into  his  hand,  I  assure 
you  I  began  to  feel  a  little  "  weak  kneed."  But  fortunately 
he  did  not  mistrust  there  was  any  money  it,  and  replaced  it 
In  my  haversack. 

Finding  nothing  that  was  attracting  about  us  we  were 
next  introduced  to  the  fair  ground,  which  they  had  arranged 
for  a  prisoner's  camp.  The  ground  was  enclosed  by  two 
lines  of  fence,  the  outer  one  about  twelve  feet  highland 
around  the  top  of  which  the  guards  were  posted  at  proper 
intervals,  and  the  inner  one,  a  paling  fence  about  ten  feet 
from  the  outer  one,  was  the  dead  line,  which  it  was  a  death 
penalty  to  touch  or  approach. 

On  entering  the  inclosure  the  cry  of  "  fresh  fish  !  fresh 
iish  !"  went  up  from  all  parts  of  the  camp,  and  a  general 
rush  was  made  by  about  twelve  hundred  officers  of  "Libby  " 


294  HISTORY   OF   THE 

notoriety,  \vlio  gathered  around  us  as  though  we  had  come 
from  another  world,  each  trying  to  catcli  a  word  of  news. 
Every  now  and  then  the  cry  would  go  up  from  those  who 
could  not  get  up  to  us,  "  Louder,  old  pudding-head  I  "  "Q, 
don't  crowd  'em!"  "give  'em  air !"  and  "don't  put  any 
lice  on  'em  ! "  To  these  ejaculations  I  at  first  felt  provoked, 
thinking  they  were  making  sport  of  us,  hut  I  soon  learned 
that  it  was  only  their  mode  of  initiating  new  comers.  Here 
I  met  Lieutenant  Paul,  of  Morgan  county,  Captains  Reed 
and  I\oss,  of  Zanesville,  Captain  Toe,  of  the  Sixty-Eighth 
Ohio,  and  "  Coon-Skin,"  of  General  Force's  staff,  together 
with  many  others  of  my  acquaintance. 

The  old  prisooers  were  quite  shabby  looking,  many  of 
them  destitute  of  shoes  and.  other  clothing.  Some  of  them 
had  no  trowsers,  and  were  going  about  in  drawers.  Some 
of  the  most  destitute  ones  would  steal  the  meal  sacks  whicl* 
the  latiows  of  meal  was  delivered  in,  and  snake  them  up 
into  trowsers.  These  sacks  wore  all  branded  in  large 
black  letters,  "Tax  in  ki»d,"  as. each  planter  was  taxed  a 
certain  portion  of  his  products  for  the  support  of  the  army,, 
which  was  required  by  their  laws  to  be  thus  marked.  The 
particular  locality  of  the  brand  after  the  sacks  were  eon- 
verted  into  trowsers,  was  commonly  in  the-  rear,  a  place1 
hard  to  conceal  without  a  coat,  which  but  few  of  them  had, 
hence  it  led  to  their  detection.,  and  the  rebel  officers  threat 
ened  to  cut  us  short  in  rations  if  we  used  any  more  of  their 
meal  bags  for  such  purposes..  As  our  rations  only  consisted 
of  a  pint  of  meal  per  day,  a  half  pint  of  rice  for  five  days.,, 
find  a  few  ounces  of  bacon,  wo  con-eluded  it  would  be  better 
to  go  naked  than  starve. 

The  rebel  officers  here  were  very  tyrannical.  On  ono 
occasion  an  officer  of  the  Forty-Fifth  Kew  York  was  shot 
"while  returning  from  the  spring  where  he  had  beeB 
bathing,  without  any  provocation  whatever,  and  si©  expla 
nation  was  ever  made  by  the  rebel  authorities,  nor 
even  an  investigation  of  the  conduct  of  the  General  \vlio 
committed  this  willful  and  deliberate  murder. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.   V.   V.   I.  295 

A\re  had  not  been  long  at  Macon  until  one  day  we  heard 
the  booming  of  cannon,  and  could  see  that  there  was  a  great 
commotion  among  the  rebels.  We  could  see  them  (the 
citizens)  on  the  tops  of  the  houses  looking  across  the  river, 
and  the  guards  around  us  were  doubled  in  number.  It  was 
Stoneman' s  approach,  and  we  were  now  in  high  hopes  of  a 
speedy  deliverance,  as  we  felt  assured  if  Stoneman  should 
enter  the  town,  that  we  could  disarm  the  guards  and  join 
them.  But  our  hopes  soon  fell  to  the  ground  by  seeing  the 
next  day,  Stoneman  and  a  number  of  his  party  join  us 
us  prisoners  of  war.  This  was  a  hard  stroke  on  the  Major- 
General,  but  as  prison  life  is  a  great  leveller  of  rank,  he 
soon  eased  down  and  became  a  common  prisoner  with  the 
rest  of  us. 

Soon  after  Stoneman's  capture  we  were  hurried  oft  to 
Charleston,  where  it  was  thought  we  would  be  more  out 
of  the  way  of  Sherman.  On  our  arrival  there,  Captain 
Keed  and  others  escaped  and  succeeded  in  reaching  our 
lines.  At  Charleston  we  received  much  better  treatment  in 
the  way  of  rations,  etc.,  than  we  had  received  at  Macon. 
Although  we  were  under  the  fire  of  our  own  guns,  we  did 
not  feel  much  alarmed,  as  it  annoyed  the  guard  more  than 
it  did  us,  and  it  afforded  us  a  little  amusemsnt  to  see  the 
guards  dodging  the  shells. 

Here  I  received  my  first  letter  from  home.  It  was  the 
iirst  time  for  nine  or  ten  weeks  that  I  had  heard  one  word 
of  information  about  the  fate  of  my  company,  or  whether 
my  family  knew  anything  of  my  whereabouts  or  what  had 
become  of  me.  My  mind  was  relieved  of  a  heavy  load  of 
anxiety,  but  still  I  was  a  prisoner.  About  the  middle  of 
September  I  had  a  severe  attack  of  intermittent  fever,  as 
did  also  my  messmate,  Colonel  Clancy.  ~\Ve  were  both 
sick  at  the  same  time.  I  was  taken  to  a  hospital  in  the 
city,  where,  in  justice  to  the  rebel  surgeon,  I  feel  bound  to 
eay  I  received  good  medical  attention.  I  only  remained 
here  a  week,  when  my  chilis  being  checked,  I  was  con 
veyed  to  a  convalescent  hospital  three  miles  from  the  city, 


296  HISTORY   OF   THE 

where  my  medical  attention  was  also  good.  This  hospital 
was  in  charge  of  Gr.  R.  C.  Todd,  a  brother-in-law  of  Pres 
ident  Lincoln.  The  doctor  was  an  ardent  rebel,  and  one 
incident  occurred  there  which  I  shall  not  soon  forget.  A 
colored  prisoner,  belonging  to  a  Massachusetts  regiment, 
who  had  been  taken  at  Fort  Wagner,  was  accused  by  the 
guard  ot  spitting  from  the  portico  of  the  building  down 
into  the  yard,  and  without  any  investigation  whatever, 
the  doctor  caused  him  to  be  stripped  and  tied,  and  receive 
thirty  lashes  on  his  naked  back.  The  indignation  of  our  sick 
prisoners  was  intense  at  this  brutal  treatment  inflicted  by 
the  hand  of  a  man  far  inferior  to  the  negro,  for  the  latter 
could  read  and  write,  while  the  other  could  do  neither, 
and  could  scarcely  tell  his  name.  The  negro  was  a  pris 
oner  of  war,  born  and  educated  in  a  free  State,  and  he  was 
entitled  to  the  same  protection  and  treatment  that  we  were, 
and  the  doctor  could  assign  no  other  reason  for  his  viola 
tion  of  the  rules  of  warfare,  than  that  the  boy  was  a  "  d — d 
nigger."  But  perhaps  the  doctor  will  apply  for  pardon 
now. 

I  only  remained  at  this  convalescent  hospital  about  ten 
days  when  I  was  sent  back  to  the  prison.  In  the  early  part 
of  October  the  yellow  fever  began  to  spread  extensively 
through  the  city,  and  they  decided  to  send  us  to  Columbia; 
not  so  much  for  our  safety  as  for  their  own,  for  Sherman 
was  facing  toward  the  coast,  and  beside  our  removal  was 
regarded  as  a  sanitary  measure  for  the  city.  As  several 
exchanges  had  taken  place  during  our  stay  at  Charleston, 
our  number  was  now  reduced  to  about  twelve  hundred,  and 
the  most  of  us  regretted  to  leave,  as  our  quarters  here  were 
more  comfortable  than  we  expected  to  get  by  going  to 
Columbia.  But  soon  the  order  come,  and  we  were  packed 
into  cattle  cars  and  off  for  Columbia,  a  distance  of  134  miles 
north  of  Charleston.  We  arrived  at  Columbia  on  the  5th 
of  October,  and  from  thence  conveyed  three  miles  west  of 
the  city,  where  we  were  placed  in  an  open  piece  of  ground 
without  any  inclosure,  and  simply  a  camp  guard  thrown 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  297 

around  us.  All  rations  of  meat  were  ordered  to  be  cut  off 
from  us  and  sorghum  molasses  given  in  lieu  thereof.  Hence 
we  called  this  "Camp  Sorghum."  At  this  camp  we  annoyed 
the  rebel  officers  very  much  by  frequent  escapes  and  demor 
alizing  the  guard.  Two  more  of  our  number  were  shot 
here  without  any  provocation,  while  inside  the  dead-line, 
and  the  guards  who  committed  these  outrages,  we  were 
informed  by  some  of  the  other  guards,  received  promotions 
for  their  villainy.  A  large  majority  of  the  guards  were 
Georgians,  and  well  disposed  toward  us.  The  rebel  officers 
could  not  always  watch  them,  and  hence  escapes  were  fre 
quent.  At  this  camp  many  an  amusing  incident,  occured, 
one  or  two  of  which  I  propose  to  introduce  in  this  epistle. 

On  one  occasion,  while  so  many  were  escaping,  the 
rebel  authorities  procured  the  services  of  a  celebrated  negro 
hunter,  who  kept  a  pair  of  blood-hounds  that  he  had 
trained  for  hunting  down  runaway  negroes,  for  the  purpose 
of  trailing  our  escaped  prisoners.  As  the  "  dorgs "  were 
trotting  around  the  guard  lines  one  morning,  some  of  the 
prisoners  called  them  into  their  quarters  and  cut  their 
throats,  and  then  buried  them  in  an  old  well  which  was  . 
was  caved  in.  About  10  o'clock  the  dogs  ?vTere  missing,  and 
a  detachment  of  guards  sent  to  search  for  them.  The 
guards  tracked  the  blood  to  the  old  well,  and  dug  them  out 
with  their  bayonets  and  reported  to  the  officers,  who  ordered 
them  to  be  dragged  out  of  the  guard  lines,  where  an  inquest 
was  held  over  them  by  about  two  thousand  rebels.  Their 
first  conclusion  was  that  the  dogs  were  dead  —  the  second, 
that  some  "d  —  d  Yank"  had  killed  them  —  and  the  third, 
woe  be  unto  the-  men  who  destroyed  the  "  purps."  Of 
course  none  of  us  knew  who  committed  the  murder,  hence 
investigation  was  unnecessary.  But  what  was  death  for  the 
rebs  was  fun  for  us. 

On  another  occasion,  as  we  were  getting  no  rations  of 
meat,  and  had  not  had  any  for  four  months,  and  some  of 
the  more  carniverous  had  become  exceedingly  hungry  for 
some,  an  old  black  boar  came  up  to  the  guard  lines  one 


208  HISTORY   OF   THE 

day,  and  the  guard  scared  him  inside  the  dead-line.  This 
was  no  sooner  done  than  the  war  commenced.  About  a 
hundred  United  States  officers  of  every  rank,  armed  with 
bludgeons  and  boulders,  attacked  his  majesty,  and  in  five 
minutes'  time  he  was  divested  of  his  sable  robe  and  divided 
and  subdivided  until  every  ounce  was  apportioned  out  to 
the  hungry  raiders,  thus  affording  nourishment  to  those 
fortunate  enough  to  come  in  for  a  share,  and  by  no  means 
a  delightful  odor  to  the  hundreds  who  were  less  fortunate. 

Our  rations  here  were  not  as  good  as  those  furnished  to 
the  enlisted  men  at  Andersonville,  but  as  some  of  us  were 
fortunate  enough  to  have  money,  we  could  buy  light  bread 
at  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  loaf,  the  loaf  being  about 
the  size  of  a  common  saucer.  "We  could  also  buy  onions 
at  one  dollar  each,  butter  at  twenty-four  dollars  per  pound, 
lard  twenty-four  dollars  per  pound,  eggs  fifteen  dollars  per 
dozen,  milk,  watered  to  suit  the  purchaser,  at  two  dollars 
per  quart.  I  one  time  thought  that  something  worse  than 
water  was  in  the  milk.  As  one  of  my  messmates  and 
myself  were  indulging  in  our  "little  old  pot  of  mush"  and 
some  sky-blue  milk,  we  both  became  sick  at  the  same  time 
and  dropped  our  spoons,  and  running  to  one  side  vomited 
profusely.  I  never  was  more  deathly  sick  in  my  life :  I 
thought  everything  inside  of  me  would  come  up. 

As  the  rebel  officers  could  not  control  us  very  well  in 
"  Sorghum,"  they  removed  us  to  the  asylum  grounds  in  the 
city.  These  grounds  were  enclosed  by  a  brick  vvall  about 
twelve  feet  high.  From,  tins  place  o'ur  only  channel  of 
escape  was  through  tunnels,  and  we  had  one  nearly  com 
pleted  when  Sherman  frustrated  our  work  by  advancing  too 
rapidly  upon  the  city.  We  were  hastened  away  in  great 
fright  to  Charlotte,  in  K"ortli  Carolina,  where  we  were  all 
paroled  for  exchange  and  sent  to  Raleigh ;  thence  to  Golds- 
boro,  thence  to  Eocky  Point,  ten  miles  from  Wilmington, 
where  we  passed  through  our  lines  on  the  1st  of  March, 
1865. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  299 

Our  reception  by  General  Schofield's  army  was  grand 
and  imposing.  A  magnificently  decorated  arch  of  ever 
greens  was  erected  over  the  road.  On  either  side  the  old 
ilag  with  its  stars  and  stripes  was  unfurled  to  the  breeze, 
mid.  as  we  passed  through  in  four  ranks,  led  by  a  famous 
brass  band,  nearly  every  heart  was  ready  to  burst  with  joy; 
and  when  once  through,  you  would  have  laughed  and  cried 
too,  as  some  of  us  did,  to  hear  the  loud  huzzas  and  seen  the 
old  blankets,  hats,  tin  pans  and  tattered  coats,  sailing  in  the 
air  from  our  liberated  prisoners,  some  of  whom  had  been 
captives  over  two  years. 

AVe  set  sail  for  Annapolis  the  next  day,  and  on  arriving 
there  we  immediately  divested  ourselves  of  our  rags  and 
u  creeping  things,"  putting  them  in  one  common  pile  for 
conflagration.  The  next  day  we  had  to  take  the  second 
look  to  recognize  each  other,  as  we  were  all  alike  disguised 
with  new  suits  of  clothes. 

During  my  sojourn  in  rebel  prisons,  I  met  with  a  large 
number  of  honest,  simple-hearted  people,  well  disposed, 
and  who  had  no  heart  in  the  rebellion.  Many  also  who 
were  extremely  ignorant  of  the  causes  of  the  rebellion,  or 
anything  connected  therewith.  I  also  found,  even  among 
the  intelligent,  some  well  disposed  and  gentlemanly  officers 
and  citizens  ;  indeed  I  might  safely  say  that  these  two 
classes  constituted  a  majority  of  those  with  whom  I  became 
acquainted.  But  among  the  ring-leaders  and  those  high  in 
authority,  as  also  some  of  the  "roughs,"  I  found  many  who 
well  deserve  the  rope. 

In  all  my  experience,  I  have  never  met  with  a  treacherous 
negro.  That  there  are  some,  I  have  not  a  doubt,  but  all  I 
met  with  I  found  trusty,  and  many  of  them  more  intelligent 
than  the  poor  whites.  The  field-hands,  however,  on  the 
cotton  plantations,  arc  very  ignorant  and  debased. 

McCoNNELSViLLE,  0.,  July  10, 1865. 

FRIEND  STEVENSON:  —  There  is  one  incident  connected 
with  my  prison  life  which  I  omitted  in  my  former  letter,  and 
which  I  now  propose  to  give  you* 


300  HISTORY   OP   THE 

On  the  8th  of  November,  1864,  at  2  o'clock  A.  M.,  Cap 
tain  Turner,  of  the  Sixteenth  Iowa,  Captain  Strang,  of  the 
Thirtieth  Illinois,  Lieutenant  Laird,  of  the  Sixteenth  Iowa, 
and  myself,  made  our  escape  through  the  guard  lines  at 
"  Camp  Sorghum,"  near  Columbia,  South  Carolina,  with  a 
view  of  making  our  way  to  the  gunboats  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Edisto  river.  Having  passed  through  in  single  file, 
without  drawing  a  fire  from  the  guard,  we  struck  our  way 
for  the  timber,  and  after  wandering  around  an  area  of  some 
five  miles,  in  search  of  the  Orangeburg  road,  we  at  length 
found  ourselves  about  two  miles  from  camp.  As  day  had 
now  began  to  dawn,  we  found  it  necessary  to  conceal  our 
selves.  We  therefore  took  refuge  in  a  dense  thicket, 
which  was  quite  narrow,  and  surrounded  by  open  grounds. 
Here  we  remained  all  day,  eating  our  "  corn  dodgers," 
smoking,  making  pipes,  and  whispering  over  the  Presi 
dential  election,  as  we  could  not  talk  above  a  whisper 
without  being  discovered  or  attracting  the  attention  of  the 
dogs  and  negroes,  who  were  within  hearing  of  us  all  day. 
We  also  speculated  a  great  deal  on  what  we  would  eat  and 
drink  when  wre  would  reach  our  lines.  Dark  at  length 
came  on.  The  moon  shone  dimly  through  the  flying 
clouds,  and  we  moved  out  quietly  in  search  of  the  Orange- 
burg  road,  which  ran  directly  south  from  Columbia. 
After  wandering  around  for  some  time  unsuccessfully,  we 
came  across  two  negro  boys,  who  kindly  conveyed  us  to  the 
road,  giving  us  much  valuable  information.  Once  on  the 
right  road,  we  started  off  in  high  glee,  marching  in  single 
file  to  avoid  making  too  many  tracks.  To  avoid  being  dis 
covered  by  any  white  person  was  now  our  chief  concern,  so 
we  pledged  ourselves  to  one  another  not  to  speak  above  a 
whisper. 

"We  had  traveled  about  five  miles,  when  suddenly  we 
heard  talking  ahead  of  us,  and  soon  discovered  a  buggy 
meeting  us.  We  were  in  an  open  lane,  a  board  fence  on 
each  side,  and  escape  seemed  impossible.  I  gave  the  signal 
to  the  others,  which  was  a  shrill  whistle,  and  immediately 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  301 

we  all  jumped  to  one  side  of  the  road,  and  fell  flat  upon 
the  ground,  trusting  to  the  brown  sage  to  shield  us  from  the 
observation  of  the  men  in  the  buggy.  They  drove  up 
unsuspectingly,  until  they  came  opposite  to  where  we  were 
lying,  when  their  horses  smelling  us,  scared  and  became 
frantic.  The  driver  struck  them  with  his  whip,  when  they 
bounded  ahead  and  soon  conveyed  them  out  of  sight,  when 
we  again  took  the  road  and  made  rapid  strides  on  our 
journey  southward.  We  met  two  or  three  wagons  during 
the  night,  but  succeeded  in  getting  out  of  the  road  until 
they  passed.  They  were  market  wagons  on  their  way  to 
Columbia. 

We  traveled  on  until  day-break,  making  a  distance  of 
eighteen  miles,  when  we  turned  aside  and  selecting  a 
hiding  place  in  the  woods  we  laid  down  [and  fell  asleep. 
We  remained  in  this  place  all  day,  but  were  frightened 
several  times  at  dogs,  which  were  running  through  the 
woods  in  search  of  something  to  eat.  We  were  not  afraid 
of  the  dogs,  but  only  afraid  they  might  bark  and  lead  to 
our  discovery.  But  the  day  passed  off  safely  to  us,  and 
when  darkness  came  on  we  again  took  up  our  march.  Our 
haversacks  by  this  time  were  rather  light  for  our  health, 
but  we  pushed  on,  hoping  to  find  some  friendly  negroes  by 
whom  we  could  get  them  replenished. 

After  marching  a  few  miles  we  discovered  a  light  ahead, 
which  we  supposed  to  be  in  a  house,  and  how  to  pass  it 
without  discovery  was  now  a  question  of  serious  moment. 
As  we  cautiously  moved  up  a  little  nearer,  the  light  disap 
peared,  which  caused  us  to  change  our  minds,  and  our  next 
conclusion  was,  that  it  was  a  rebel  picket  post.  We  moved 
tip  a  little  closer,  and  discovered  a  bridge  between  us  and 
where  we  had  last  seen  the  light,  which  confirmed  us  in  the 
belief  that  the  bridge  was  guarded.  Captain  Strang  vol 
unteered  to  move  up  close  enough  to  see  if  he  could 
discover  the  post  and  how  it  was  situated.  Meanwhile  the 
balance  of  us  concealed  ourselves  in  the  bushes  by  the  road 
side.  The  Captain  soon  returned  and  reported  that  he  saw 


302  HISTORY   OF   THE 

a  man  moving  about  at  the  other  end  of  the  bridge,  but 
could  see  no  others,  strengthening  onr  conviction  that  the 
bridge  was  guarded,  and  how  to  get  around  it  was  a  matter 
that  gave  us  much  trouble.  As  it  was  an  impenetrable 
thicket  on  either  side,  and  the  banks  of  the  stream  vcrv 
high. 

While  consulting  what  we  should  do,  our  ears  were 
greeted  by  the  tread  of  a  "darkle."  Captain  Turner 
stepped  to  the  roadside  and  attempted  to  hail  him  in  a 
whisper.  "Uncle!  Uncle!"  said  Turner.  "Who  dar  ?'' 
said  Harry,  in  a  tone  of  voice  that  would  have  awakened 
all  the  pickets  within  a  mile  of  us.  "Hush!  hush!'7  said 
the  Captain,  "  the  picket  guards  will  hear  us."  Harry  was 
a  little  frightened  on  being  hailed  so  suddenly,  and  kept  on 
his  guard.  lie  had  not  yet  discovered  the  rest  of  us.  "  "Who 
is  you  ?"  said  Harry,  and  "  what  does  you  want  with  me?" 
"We  are  Yankee  prisoners,"  said  the  Captain,  "and  want 
to  talk  with  you."  "  0!  bress  de  Lord,"  said  Harry,  (laying 
down  a  huge  possum  which  he  had  suspended  by  the  tail) 
"  Come  out,  you  shan't  be  hurt." 

We  learned  from  Harry  that  there  was  no  guards  at  the 
bridge,  but  that  a  citizen  who  was  on  his  way  to  the  coast 
for  salt  had  put  up  there  for  the  night,  and  that  the  light 
we  saw  was  the  man  going  to  the  creek  to  get  water  for  his 
mules,  but  that  he  had  gone  to  sleep  in  his  covered  wagon m 
So,  Harry  leading  off,  we  set  out  again,  feeling  greatly 
relieved  of  our  troubles.  We  traveled  about  three  mites 
beyond  the  bridge,  when  we  came  to  the  plantation  where 
Harry's  master  resided.  We  stepped  into  the  woods  by  the 
road  side  and  set  down  to  rest,  while  Harry  went  into  the 
potato  patch  and  grabble:!  us  some  sweet  potatoes;  and 
after  filling  our  sacks  with  raw  potatoes  we  renewed  our 
march  and  continued  it  till  near  daybreak. 

Before  halting,  however,  we  were  suddenly  alarmed  by  a 
signal  similar  to  onr  own,  by  the  road  side,  and  a  man  came 
walking  out  of  the  bushes  dressed  in  rebel  uniform.  He 
inquired  of  us  something  about  the  roads,  supposing  at 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  303 

first  we  were  negroes ;  but  on  discovering  that  we  were 
white  he  seemed  as  much  alarmed  as  we  were.  For  a  few 
seconds  both  parties  were  afraid  to  introduce  the  object  of 
their  mission.  At  length  we  inquired  of  him  where  he  was 
going ;  he  replied  he  was  going  home  on  a  leave  of  absence. 
We  then  asked  him  what  regiment  he  belonged  to.  lie 
replied,  to  a  Georgia  regiment,  but  did  not  recollect  the 
number.  We  then  began  to  see  the  "  Yankee  "  in  disguise, 
and  told  him  that  we  were  Yankee  officers  escaping  from 
Columbia  prison,  which  seemed  to  relieve  him  greatly, 
when  he  acknowledged  himself  a  Yankee  also,  escaping 
from  Charleston,  and  trying  to  reach  Sherman's  lines  in  the 
direction  of  Atlanta. 

We  could  give  him  no  encouragement,  as  he  would  have 
two  hundred  miles  to  march,  under  great  difficulty.  He 
expressed  a  desire  to  join  our  party,  which  we  would  gladly 
have  consented  to,  but  feeling  that  our  party  was  already 
large  enough,  #nd  being  fearful  that  enlarging  it  would 
endanger  the  safety  of  all,  we  declined  ;  but  giving  him  our 
best  wishes,  we  passed  on  our  way  until  it  became  necessary 
to  put  up  for  the  day.  We  turned  into  the  first  favorable 
looking  place  for  concealment,  threw  ourselves  upon  the 
ground  and  soon  fell  asleep. 

But  we  did  not  enjoy  our  repose  long.  At  daylight  we 
were  suddenly  aroused  by  the  rattle  of  the  cars,  which 
soemcd  as  though  they  were  running  over  us.  On  looking 
around  us  we  discovered  that  we  were  only  a  few  feet  from 
the  railroad  track,  and  the  train  had  passed  by  without 
any  one  discovering  us.  But  the  train  once  out  of  sight, 
we  moved  farther  away  from  the  road,  and  concealed 
ourselves  in  a  thicket  of  undergrowth  timber,  where  we 
ventured  to  kindle  a  tire  and  boil  our  sweet  potatoes. 
We  remained  here  all  day  without  molestation,  though  in 
sight  of  a  plantation  house,  where  we  could  see  the  field 
hands  at  work.  Our  provisions  had  again  given  out,  and 
when  dark  set  in  we  attempted  to  sec  some  of  the  negroes, 
but  as  there  appeared  to  be  too  many  hounds  about,  we 


304  HISTORY   OF   THE 

concluded  it  would  be  unsafe  to  remain  there,  so  we  struck 
out  for  the  Orangeburg  road.  "We  had  got  but  a  short 
distance  when  the  roaring  of  the  hounds  were  heard  in  our 
rear,  and  occasionally  the  blast  of  the  horn.  This  alarmed 
us  much,  but  with  cudgels  in  hand,  we  made  rapid  strides 
toward  Orangeburg.  We  soon  became  convinced  that  the 
hounds  were  not  on  our  track,  but  on  a  fox  trail. 

As  we  were  evidently  nearing  the  town,  we  were  again 
troubled  to  know  how  we  should  get  around  it  and  reach 
the  river,  where  we  expected  to  find  boats.  We  struck  off' 
on  a  road  which  we  supposed  would  take  us  to  the  river 
south  of  town,  but  traveling  but  a  short  distance  we  found 
ourselves  in  the  town,  where  a  retreat  was  as  hazardous  as 
anything  else.  It  was  about  midnight  and  the  moon  shone 
brightly,  so  we  marched  quietly  through  the  village,  until 
we  reached  the  southern  boundary,  where  we  chanced  to 
meet  a  "  gentleman  of  color."  The  white  people  "  slum 
bered  and  slept."  Our  colored  friend  informed  us  that 
there  was  no  boat  at  the  river,  but  what  was  guarded  by  the 
rebels.  We  had  by  this  time  became  exceedingly  hungry 
and  tired,  but  no  alternative  was  left  but  to  push  on 
to  some  other  point.  Branchville  was  our  next  hope, 
which  was  sixteen  miles  south  of  Orangeburg  and  also  on 
the  Edisto  river.  So  off  we  started,  taking  the  railroad 
track  as  the  safest  route.  After  traveling  in  this  direction 
two  miles,  we  met  a  negro  man  and  his  wife  on  their  way 
toward  Orangeburg.  We  found  them  to  be  friendly  and 
trusty.  The  man,  whose  name  was  "  Toney,"  lived  a  mile 
further  down  the  road,  and  his  wife  lived  in  Orangeburg. 
Toney  said  if  we  would  go  on  down  near  massa's  plantation 
and  wait,  he  would  help  his  wife  carry  up  the  forage  which 
they  had  evidently  been  getting  off  massa's  plantation,  and 
return  and  show  us  a  hiding  place,  as  it  was  approaching 
daybreak.  We  took  him  at  his  word,  and  sure  enough, 
Tony  soon  returned  and  conducted  us  to  a  dense  forest, 
where  we  kindled  a  fire  to  warm  ourselves,  and  took  a  short 
sleep.  About  9  o'clock  in  the  morning  Toney  came  out 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.   I.  305 

witli  a  basket  of  provisions,  wliicli  I  assure  you  we  relished. 
Pone,  sweet  potatoes,  rice,  boiled  and  fried,  fresh  pork, 
were  luxuries  wliicli  we  did  not  often  indulge  in,  except  the 
pone. 

Tony  gave  us  all  the  information  he  could,  and  stated 
that  his  master  was  an  "  ossifer  in  the  Confederick  States." 
lie  told  us  if  we  would  remain  there  until  9  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  he  would  bring  us  some  more  provisions.  We 
waited  accordingly,  but  Tony  failed  to  appear.  \Vc 
concluded  something  had  turned  up,  which  Tony  could 
not  control,  so  we  struck  out  for  Branchville.  It  was  Sat 
urday  night,  and  a  good  time  for  meeting  darkies,  but  just 
at  the  time  we  most  needed  their  aid,  we  failed  to  meet 
with  any.  Traveling  011  until  nearly  daylight  Sunday 
morning,  we  found  ourselves  in  the  village  of  Branchville. 
We  hastened  with  light  steps  through  the  village,  and 
marching  about  two  miles  beyond,  daylight  compelled  us 
to  seek  refuge  in  a  swampy  thicket,  where  we  spent  tl.e 
Sabbath  in  making  pipes.  When  night  came  on  again,  we 
moved  out  to  the  roadside  to  seek  an  interview  with  the 
first  darkie  we  could  see,  as  it  would  be  impossible  for  us  to 
travel  any  further  without  something  to  eat,  and  besides 
we  needed  information  about  the  boats.  Providentially,  we 
had  waited  but  a  few  minutes  when  a  half  dozen  negroes 
came  along,  to  whom  we  introduced  ourselves,  and  who 
seemed  glad  to  see  us.  They  conveyed  us  to  a  hiding  place, 
and  went  to  their  quarters  and  cooked  us  a  half  bushel  of 
tweet  potatoes  and  brought  out  to  us,  together  with  some 
bread  and  pork,  and  a  lot  of  raw  potatoes  to  carry  with  us. 
After  eating  a  hearty  supper,  we  gathered  up  the  balance 
of  our  "  grub/'  and  "  Mose"  and  the  other  darkies  leading 
the  way,  we  soon  found  ourselves  at  the  river,  where 
there  were  two  canoes.  Mose  owned  one  of  them  and  his 
master  the  other,  but  Mose  said,  "  Lord  a  massy,  take  'em 
and  welcome."  We  paid  them  a  few  dollars  in  Confederate 
money.  Captains  Turner  and  Strang  boarded  one  of  the 
boats,  which  they  named  the  "  Continental,"  and  Laird  and 

20 


306  HISTORY   OF   THE 

I  took  tbe  other,  which  we  named  the  "  Gladiator."  Bid 
ding  our  colored  friends  good-bye,  we  pushed  out  from 
shore. 

"  The  mo^n  was  shining  silver  bright, 
The  stars  with  gloiy  crowned  the  night/' 

and  no  happier  set  of  fellows  could  be  found  than  we  were 
when  we  first  struck  our  paddles  in  the  water  of  the  Edisto, 
heading  toward  our  gunboats.  We  made  steamboat  speed 
the  remainder  of  the  night,  and  about  day-break  we  tied 
up  and  camped  for  the  day,  in  the  wilderness  of  the  Edisto. 
Monday  night  came  on,  when  we  again  pushed  out,  and 
made  good  speed  until  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when 
we  again  went  ashore  and  took  a  sleep  until  daylight, 
(Tuesday)  when  we  kindled  a  fire  and  cooked  our  remaining 
potatoes,  and  sucked  our  sugar-cane  stalks  until  they  were 
dry.  Tuesday  night  came  on,  and  we  resumed  our  voyage, 
but  it  now  became  necessary  to  hunt  for  more  forage.  £o, 
passing  down  the  river  a  few  miles,  we  came  to  a  plantation 
lying  near  the  river,  which  was  quite  a  rare  thing,  as  it  was 
principally  a  wilderness  on  both  hides  of  the  river. 

Here  we  pushed  ashore,  tied  our  boats  under  cover  of  the 
bank,  and  moved  up  quietly  .to  the  negro  quarters  and 
made  ourselves  known  to  darkies,  who  were,  glad  to  see 
"de  Yankees'7  they  had  heard  so  much  about;  and  after 
becoming  satisfied  that  we  had  no  "horns'7  and  that  we 
were  their  friends,  they  rallied  all  the  negroes  on  the  plan 
tation.  Women  and  children  came  out  to  see  us,  each  one 
bringing  some  token  of  their  kind  regard.  Even  the 
smallest  child  had  a  potato  to  give  us.  By  these  negroes 
our  haversacks  were  again  replenished  with  grub,  but  they 
could  give  us  but  little  information  about  what  was  ahead 
of  us.  We  started  with  our  treasures  to  our  boats  again. 
Just  as  I  stepped  into  my  boat  it  tipped  up  with  me,  throw 
ing  me  into  the  rapid  current,  and  I  should  evidently  have 
drowned  (being  no  swimmer)  but  for  a  bough  of  a  tree 
which  reached  to  the  surface  of  the  water,  and  which*  I 
chanced  to  get  hold  of,  pullirg  myself  up  and  climbing  up 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  307 

the  limb.  I  again  got  on  shore,  and  soon  we  were  in  our 
boats  and  under  way.  But  as  I  was  wet  and  the  night 
cold,  we  only  traveled  a  few  miles  until  we  went  ashore, 
made  a  lire,  dried  my  clothes,  and  slept  the  balance  of  the 
night. 

^Text  day  we  resolved  to  run  the  risk  of  traveling  in  day 
light,  so  we  pushed  out  and  run  at  good  speed  nearly  all 
day,  undisturbed  save  the  occasional  plunging  in  of  a  huge 
alligator  from  the  shore,  which  sometimes  endangered  the 
safety  of  our  boats.  As  night  approached  we  were  confi 
dent  that  we  were  Hearing  a  bridge,  which  we  had  been 
previously  informed  was  guarded  by  rebel  pickets,  though 
we  could  not  learn  whether  we  could  run  our  boats  under 
the  bridge  undiscovered,  or  whether  we  should  be  compelled 
to  leave  them  and  Hank  the  guards,  running  our  chances  to 
get  others  below  the  bridge.  Our  only  chances  were  to 
"go  it  blind,"  or  to  see  some  negroes  and  get  the  necessary 
information. 

Darkness  at  length  came  on,  and  we  had  sailed  but  a 
short  distance  until  we  heard  talking  on  the  shore  in  the 
woods,  near  the  river.  Supposing  it  to  be  the  voice  of 
negroes,  as  it  is  hard  to  distinguish  the  difference  between 
the  language  of  the  negro  and  that  of  the  white  man  in 
that  country,  we  pushed  ashore,  tied  our  boats,  and  started 
up  to  meet  our  colored  friends,  but  had  got  but  a  short 
distance  when  the  dogs  pitched  at  us  fiercely,  and  the  men 
began  to  hiss  them  on ;  and  advancing  rapidly  upon  us,  we 
soon  discovered  that  we  were  entrapped. 

The  party  consisted  of  two  white  men  and  two  negroes, 
armed  with  double-barrel  shot-guns,  accompanied  by  two 
dogs.  They  demanded  of  us  who  we  were  and  where 
going.  We  represented  ourselves  as  Confederates  on  a 
leave  of  absence,  from  the  Thirty-Second  Georgia.  They 
however  mistrusted  us,  and  demanded  our  papers.  I  took 
a  piece  of  paper  from  my  pocket  to  make  believe  I  had  a 
furlough;  but  none  of  the  party  could  read,  which  was 
well  enough,  as  there  was  nothing  on  it  to  read.  They 


308  HISTOKY    OF   THE 

expressed  themselves  willing  to  let  us  go,  if  they  could 
do  so  without  their  officers  finding  it  out ;  but  said  they 
were  under  orders  to  arrest  everybody  traveling  without  a 
pass,  and  sent  for  a  man  in  the  neighborhood  to  come  and 
examine  our  pass.  We  then  told  them  who  we  were,  as 
escape  seemed  impossible,  on  account  of  the  hounds  and 
other  difficulties.  We  were  then  taken  to  a  house  on  the 
plantation  and  put  under  guard,  and  the  women  went  to 
work,  killed  some  chickens,  went  into  the  field  and  pulled 
some  corn,  shelled  and  ground  it  on  a  little  hand  mill, 
baked  us  a  pone  from  the  meal,  and  made  us  a  supper  of 
chicken,  pone  and  sweet  potatoes. 

We  were  now  a  hundred  and  sixty-five  miles  from  where 
we  started,  and  thirty  miles  south  of  Charleston.  The  next 
morning  we  were  taken  to  Charleston  on  the  first  train. 
The  family  where  we  had  stayed  all  night,  being  of  the 
poorer  class,  expressed  a  good  deal  of  sympathy  for  us. 
One  of  the  women  remarked  to  Captain  Strung,  "  Youen» 
are  better  lookin'  than  our  folks." 

At  Charleston  we  were  introduced  to  the  jail  and  locked 
up  in  close  confinement,  our  rations  consisting  of  a  pot  of 
mush  a  day  for  all  four  of  us,  with  nothing  to  eat  it  with 
but  our  pocket  knives  and  fingers.  We  were  only  kept 
here  a  few  days,  however,  when  we  were  put  upon  the  cars 
and  returned  to  Columbia,  from  whence  we  started. 

Very  truly  yours, 

'  W.  W.  McCAHTY. 


ATLANTA,  AND  SHERMANS  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA 

General  Scott,  commanding  the  Second  Brigade,  was 
taken  prisoner  early  in  the  action  of  the  22d.  Colonel 
Wiles  took  command  of  the  Brigade  in  th-e  midst  of  the 
kettest  of  the  engagement.  His  tall  form  could  be  seen  at 
all  times,  everywhere  encouraging  the  men  to  stand  firm. 
And  firm  they  stood,  like  immovable  rocks;  and  nothing 
but  the  obstinate  stand  and  desperate  determination  to  hold 
their  position  or  die  there,  saved  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  5Tev<5(r  in  the  history  <jf  the  war  did  troops  do 
harder  fighting1  than  the  Second  Brigade  that  afternoon* 

O  O  ^> 

A  few  days  after  the  fight  of  the  22d,  the  Corps  aban 
doned  the  left  and  moved  to  the  right  of  the  army,  where, 
lor  several  days  in  sight  of  Atlanta,  they  fought  with  the 
•enemy  a-nd  kept  pouring  shells  into  the  city. 

They  next  abandoned  their  works  on  the  right,  and 
moved  vitk  the  whole  army,  except  the  Twentieth  Corps, 
to  the  rear  of  Atlanta,  "by  way  of  Jon.esboro,  which  gave 
as  possession  of  the  city.  In  the  fight  at  Jonesboro,  George 
Harris,  of  Company  E,  was  killed.  This  was  the  on?y  casu 
alty.  He  was  a  brave  soldier  and  a  most  worthy  man.  lie 
Left  a  wife  and  one  child  to  mourn  his  loss- 

In  addition  to  those  killed  upon  the  battle-field  of  the 
'22d,  very  many  died  of  their  wounds.  Among  those  aot 
mentioned  in  the  records  who  were  killed  on  that  day,  are 
Francis  Porter,  Orderly  Sergeant  of  Company  G,  and  pri- 
E.  Gallagher,  of  Company  K,  both  men  of  marked 


olO  HISTORY    OF    THE 

bravery  and  popular  favor,  loved  and  esteemed  by  all;  tliey 
have  gone  to  their  reward,  engaged  in  defense  of  humanity 
and  the  great  principles  of  national  honor  and  liberty. 

After  the  city  fell  into  our  hands  it  was  made  a  military 
depot,  all  the  inhabitants  were  ordered  either  Xorlh  or 
South,  .about  an  equal  number  going  each  way.  Nothing 
but  the  tramp  of  the  soldiers  was  heard  by  night  or  day,  in 
the  shattered,  bullet-riddled  and  desolated  city.  The 
Seventy-Eighth  encamped  south  of  the  city,  and  enjoyed 
three  or  four  weeks  rest. 

The  rebel  General  Hood  feeling  sore  over  the  loss  of 
Atlanta,  determined  upon  a  bold  move  that  would  again 
give  him  possession  of  the  city.  He  therefore  decided  to 
march  his  whole  army  into  Tennessee,  cutting  Sherman's 
communications  on  his  way,  destroying  all  his  depots  of 
supplies,  and  thus  compelling  Sherman  to  leave  Atlanta, 
and  follow  him  into  Tennessee.  This  was  just  what 
Sherman  desired,  and  he  moved  after  him  with  the  Fourth, 
Fifteenth,  Fourteenth  and  Seventeenth  Corps,  and  drove 
him  as  far  north  as  suited  his  purposes  in  making  the  grand 
raid  through  Georgia. 

AVhen  he  had  driven  Hood  beyond  harm's  way,  he 
returned  and  made  all  ha&te  to  put  his  army  in  readiness 
for  the  maich  to  the  sea. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  November  the  army  left. 
All  the  business  part  of  the  city  was  destroyed  ;  being  set 
on  lire  it  was  Irft  to  the  mercy  of  the  flames.  I^o  one  was 
left  to  oppose  them  or  check  the  wide  spreading  ruin. 
There  has  been  nothing  like  it  in  the  history  of  the  world. 
A  city  deserted  by  every  inhabitant,  the  angry  names  leap 
ing  heavenward  and  from  building  to  building,  rejoicing  in 
their  mad  reign,  where  man  ane!  happiness  once  dwelt  in 
fond  embrace. 

Considered  as  a  spectacle,  the  march  of  General  Sherman's 
army  surpassed,  in  some  respects,  all  marches  in  history. 
The  flames  of  a  city  lighted  its  beginning ;  desolation, 
which  in  one  sense  is  sublime,  marked  its  progress  to  the 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.   I.  311 

sea.  Its  end  was  a  beautiful  possession — a  city  spared 
from  doom.  Underneath  smiling  skies,  cooled  by  airs 
balmy  as  the  breath  of  a  northern  summer,  the  army  of  the 
West,  slowly  transforming  itself  intp  an  army  of  the  East, 
moved  from  sunset  to  sunrise,  through  a  territory  rich  in 
all  things  wherein  the  theories  of  statisticians  have  declared 
it  poor.  Food  in  gardens,  tood  'in  cellars,  stock  in  fields, 
stock  in  barns,  poultry  everywhere,  appeared  in  the  distance, 
disappeared  in  the  presence,  and  was  borne  away  upon  the 
knapsacks  and  bayonets  oi  thousands  of  soldiers. 

A  new  El  Dorado,  too,  was  this  heart  of  the  South. 
Money  —  bright  gold,  shining  silver  — plucked  from  closets, 
and  stockings,  and  burial  places  by  the  roadside,  enriched 
the  invaders.  The  soldier  has  his  whims  —  the  tail- 
feathers  of  peacocks  drooped  and  scintillated  along  the 
moving  columns,  from  the  crests  of  infantrymen  and 
troopers. 

Jokes,,  laughter  and  songs,  and  the  tasting  of  the  sweets 
of  honey  and  sorghum,  relieved  the  weary  tramp,  tramp 
ing  over  fields,  roads  and  bridges.  The  cavalry  swept  the 
pathway  of  guerrillas;  the  clang  of  the  hoofs  and  sabres 
resounded  through  the  glens  to  right,  to  left  and  in  the 
front.  Swift  and  terrible,  and  not  always  just,  were  the 
strokes  of  their  arms  and  the  works  of  their  hands.  Pio 
neers  along  a  march  of  desolation  forty  miles  in  width  and 
three  hundred  in  length,  their  labor  was  too  swift  to  be 


discriminating. 


The  great  army — over  the  lands  and  into  the  dwellings 
of  the  poor  and  rich  alike,  through  towns  and  cities  — 
like  a  roaring  wave,  swept  and  paused,  reveled  and  surged 
on.  In  the  daytime  the  splendor,  the  toil,  the  desolation 
of  the  march  ;  in  the  nightime  the  brilliancy,  the  gloom, 
the  music,  the  joy  and  slumber  of  the  camp.  Memorable 
the  music  that  "  mocked  the  moon "  of  November  on  the 
soil  of  Georgia  ;  sometimes  a  triumphant  march,  sometimes 
a  waltz,  again  an  old  air,  stirring  the  heart  alike  to  recol 
lection  and  hope.  Floating  out  of  throats  of  brass  to  the 


312  HISTORY   OF  THE 

ears  of  soldiers  in  their  blankets  and  Generals  in  their  tents, 
these  tunes  hallowed  the  eyes  of  all  who  listened.     Sitting 
before  his  tent  in  the  glow  of  a  camp  fire  one  evening, 
General  Sherman  let  his  cigar  go  out,  to  listen  to  an  air 
that  a  distant  band  was  playing.     The  General  turned  to 
one  of  his  officers:    "  Send  an  orderly  to  ask  that  band  to 
play  that  tune  again."     A  little  while  and  the  band  received 
the  word.     The  tune  was  "  The  Blue  Juniata,"  with  exquis 
ite  variations.     The  band  played  it  again,  even  more  beau 
tifully  than  before.     Again  it  ceased,  and  then,  off  to  the 
right,  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  the  voices  of  some 
soldiers  took  it  up  wTith  words.  The  band,  and  still  another 
played  a  low  accompaniment;  camp  after  camp  began  'sing 
ing  ;  the  music   of  "  The  Blue  Juniata"   became  for   a  few 
minutes,  the  oratorio  of  half  an  army.   Back  along  the  whole 
wide  pathway  of  this  grand  march, from  border  to  coast,  the 
eye  catches    glimpses   of  scenes    whose  poetic  images  an 
American,  five  years  ago,  would  have  thought  never  could 
have  been  revived  from  the  romantic  past.     Pictures  swarm 
in  fields  and  glens,  and  by  -the  banks  of  rivers.     A   halt  at 
high   noon  beside  a   village,  a  besieging  of  houses   by  the 
troops,  soldiers  emerging  from  the  doorways  and  backyards, 
bearing  quilts,  plates,   poultry  and  pigs,  beehives   attacked, 
honey  in  the  hands  and  smearing  the  faces   of  the  boys, 
hundreds  of  soldiers  poking  hundreds   of  bayonets   in  the 
corners  of  yards  and  gardens,  after  concealed  treasures ;  here 
and  there  a  shining  prize,  and  shouting  and  scrambling,  and 
a    merry    division     of   the    spoils.      In  the   background, 
women  with  praying  hands  and  beseeching  lips  unheeded. 
!N"ight  near  a  railroad  depot — a  roar  of  fires,  a  shouting 
of  voices,  thousands  of  men  ripping  up  ties  and  rails,  heat 
ing  them,  twisting  them,  casting  them  down,  axes  at  work, 
the  depot  buildings  and  wood  piles  a  blaze,  a  truly  pictur 
esque  and  tumultuous  scene. 

The  march  by  day  —  winding  columns,  glittering 
muskets,  glowing  flags,  Generals'  cavalcades,  wagon  trains, 
stragglers,  and  thousands  of  negroes  in  the  rear,  stretching 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  313 

over  miles,  a  country  of  level  fields,  crossed  by  streams, 
broken  occasionally  by  swamps  and  patches  of  forest,  the 
distant  smoke  of  fires,  ragged  villagers  and  ragged  hovels 
by  the  way,  at  intervals  a  woman's  head  peeping  out  from 
a  door  or  a  window,  quickly  closed  ;  at  times  a  colored 
family,  voluble  with  questions,  thanking  God  for  the 
advent,  and  joining  in  the  march  with  their  kind  in  the 
rear. 

The  camp  by  night  —  a  faint  glow  of  camp  fires  through 
miles  of  darkness,  the  cooking  of  suppers  everywhere, 
laughter  and  talk,  card  playing,  smoking,  music,  and  the 
sounds  of  horses  hoofs  near  and  far,  mess  tents,  a  murmur 
with  a  good  cheer,  growing  silence,  a  fainter  glow  of  fires, 
a  tumbling  into  blankets,  slumber  in  all  the  field. 

Clank,  clank,  through  the  dark,  through  the  forest,  go 
the  cavalrymen's  sabres.  Their  marches  cease  not  night 
or  day ;  they  go  forth  to  discover,  repair  or  surprise.  Before 
the  day  they  have  sent  a  guerrilla  party  headlong,  or  have 
anticipated  the  dawn  with  an  illumination.  The  streams 
arc  cool  and  clear,  by  many  a  cliff  and  wood.  TTere, 
"naked  and  not  ashamed,''  a  hundred  soldiers  bathe  within 
the  waters.  Their  clothes  and  arms  are  flung  upon  the 
banks;  their  bodies  gleam  and  splash  among  the  ripples; 
their  laughter  rings  harsh  and  loud,  low  and  musical,  while 
moving  ranks  upcn  the  bridge  above,  go  by.  Down  by 
to\vns  and  cities,  and  plantations,  to  the  sea,  the  pageant 
and  the  wrath  move  to  the  new  conquest,  which  at  last  is 
ours,  and  the  curtain  falls  upon  another  act  of  a  drama, 
which  finds  us  in  the  rich  and  beautiful  city  of  Savannah. 

ANECDOTES  AND  INCIDENTS  OF    SHERMAN'S  GRAND  MARCH. 

The  most  pathetic  scenes  occur  upon  our  line  of  march 
daily  and  hourly.  Thousands  of  negro  women  join  the 
column,  some  carrying  household  truck ;  others,  and  many 
of  them  there  are,  who  bear  the  heavy  burden  of  children, 
in  their  arms,  while  older  bo}'s  and  girls  plod  by  their  side. 
All  these  women  and  children  are  ordered  back,  heart 
rending  though  it  may  be,  to  refuse  them  liberty.  They 


814  HISTORY   OF   THE 

won't  go.  One  begs  that  she  may  go  to  see  her  husband 
and  children  at  Savannah  ;  long  years  ago  she  was  forced 
from  them  and  sold.  Another  has  heard  that  her  boy  was 
inMacon,  and  she  is  "  done  gone  wid  grief  goin  on  four 
years." 

But  the  majority  accept  the  advent  of  the  Yankees  as 
the  fulfillment  of  the  millennial  prophecies.  The  "  day  of 
Jubilee,"  the  hope  and  prayer  of  a  lifetime,  has  come. 
They  cannot  be  made  to  understand  that  they  must  remain 
behind,  and  they  are  satisfied  only  when  General  Sherman 
tells  them — as  he  does  every  day,  that  we  shall  come  back 
for  them  some  time,  and  that  they  must  be  patient  until  the 
proper  hour  of  deliverance  comes. 

The  other  day  a  woman  with  a  child  in  her  arms  was 
working  her  way  along  among  the  teams  and  crowds  of 
cattle  and  horsemen ;  an  officer  called  to  her  kindly : 
"  Where  are  you  going,  Aunty  ?"  She  looked  up  into  his 
lace  with  a  hopeful,  beseeching  look,  and  replied  "1'Se  gwine 
whar  you'se  gwine,  Massa." 

At  a  house  a  few  miles  from  Millcdgeville  we  halted  for 
an  hour.  In  an  old  hut  I  found  a  negro  and  his  wife,  both 
of  them  over  sixty  years  old.  In  the  talk  which  ensued, 
nothing  was  said  which  led  me  to  suppose  that  either  of 
them  were  anxious  to  leave  their  mistress,  who,  by  the  way, 
was  a  sullen,  cruel  looking  woman,  when  all  at  once  the 
old  negress  straightened  herself  up,  and  her  face,  which  a 
moment  before  was  almost  stupid  in  its  expression,  assumed 
a  fierce,  almost  devilish  aspect. 

Pointing  her  shining  black  linger  at  the  old  man  crouched 

O  O  O 

in  the  corner  of  the  fire-place,  she  hissed  out :  "What  for 
you  set  dar ;  you  spose  I  wait  sixty  years  for  imttin  ? 
Don't  yer  see  de  door  open  ?  Ise  fuller  my  chile ;  I  not 
stay.  Yes,  nodder  day  I  goes  long  wid  people ;  yes,  sar,  I 
walks  till  I  drop  in  my  tracks."  A  more  terrible  sight  I 
uever  beheld.  I  can  think  of  nothing  to  compare  with  it, 
except  Charlotte  Cushman's  "  Meg  Merriles."  Rembrandt 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    O.V.    V.    I.  815 

only  could  have  painted  the  scene,  with  its  dramatic  sur 
roundings. 

It  was  noar  this  place  that  several  factories  were  burned. 
It  was  odd  to  see  the  delight  of  the  negroes  at  the  destruc 
tion  of  places  known  only  to  them  as  task-houses,  where 
they  had  groaned  under  the  lash. 

"We  have  had  very  little  difficulty  in  crossing  the  Ogeechee. 
The  Seventeenth  Corps  covered  the  Ogeeche  river,  where  a 
light  bridge  was  only  partially  destroyed.  It  was  easily 
repaired,  so  that  the  infantry  and  cavalry  could  pass  over  it, 
while  the  wagons  and  cavalry  used  the  pontoons.  The 
Ogeeche  is  about  sixty  yards  in  width  at  this  point.  It  is 
approached  on  the  northern  or  western  side  through 
swamps,  which  would  be  impassable  were  it  not  for  the 
sandy  soil,  which  packs  solid  when  water  covers  the  roads, 
although  in  places  there  are  treacherous  quicksands  which 
we  are  obliged  to  corduroy. 

IN  A  FOG. 

Soon  the  fog,  which  settles  like  a  blanket  over  the  swamps 
and  forests  of  the  river  bottoms,  shut  down  upon  the  scene ; 
and  so  dense  and  dark  was  it  that  torches  were  of  little  use, 
and  men  were  directed  here  and  there  by  the  voice. 

"  Jim,  are  you  there  ?  "  shouts  one. 

"  Yes,  I  am  here,"  is  the  impatient  answer. 

"  Well,  go  straight  ahead." 

"  Straight  ahead  ?  where  the  thunder  is  straight  ahead  ?  " 

AN  ORIGINAL   CHARACTER. 

At  this  station  we  came  across  an  old  man  named  Wells, 
who  was  the  most  original  character  I  ever  met.  He  was 
depot  master  in  the  days  when  there  was  a  railroad  here. 
He  is  a  shrewd  old  man  and  secmdd  to  understand  the 
merits  of  the  war  question  perfectly,  lie  said  : 

"  They  say  you  are  retreating,  but  it  is  the  strangest  sort 
of  a  retreat  I  ever  saw.  Why,  dog  bite  'em,  the  newspa 
pers  have  been  lying  in  this  way  all  along.  They  are 
always  whipping  the  Federal  armies,  and  they  always  fall 
back  after  the  battle  is  over.  It  was  that  'ere  idea  that  first 


316  HISTORY   OF   THE 

opened  my  eyes.  Our  army  always  whipping  the  Feds., 
and  we  always  fell  hack.  I  always  told  them  it  was  a  d — d 
humbug,  and  now  I  know  it,  for  here  you  are,  right  on  old 
John  Wells'  place  ;  hogs,  potatoes,  corn  and  fences  all  gone. 
I  don't  find  any  fault.  I  expected  it  all. 

"  Jeff  Davis  and  the  rest  talk  about  splittin'  the  Union. 
Why  if  South  Carolina  had  gone  out  by  herself,  she  would 
have  been  split  in  four  pieces  by  this  time.  Splittin'  the 
Union  !  Why  the  State  of  Georgia  is  bein''  split  right 
through  from  end  to  end.  It's  these  rich  fellers  who  are 
making  this  war,  and  keeping  their  precious  bodies  out  of 
harm's  way.  There's  John  Franklin,  went  through  here  the 
other  day,  running  away  from  your  army.  I  could  have  play 
ed  dominoes  on  his  coat  tail.  There's  my  poor  brother,  sick 
with  small-pox  at  Macon,  working  for  eleven  dollars  a 
month,  and  hasn't  got  a  cent  of  the  d  —  n  stuff  for  a  year. 
'Levcn  dollars  a  month,  and  eleven  thousand  bullets  a  min 
ute.  I  don't  believe  in  it. 

"  I  heard  as  how  they  cut  down  the  trees  across  your  road 
up  country,  and  burnt  the  bridges;  wh}r,  (dog  bite  their 
hides)  one  of  you  Yankees  can  take  up  a  tree  and  carry  it 
off,  top  and  all ;  and  there's  that  bridge  you  put  across  the 
river  in  less  than  two  hours  —  they  might  as  well  try  to 
stop  the  Ogeeche  as  you  Yankees.  The  blasted  rascals  who 
burnt  this  'ere  bridge  thought  they  did  a  big  thing ;  a  nat 
ural  born  fool  cut  in  two  had  more  sense  in  either  end  than 
any  of  them." 

THE  PRISONERS'  PEN  AT  MILLEX. 

As  mentioned  above,  this  place  is  five  miles  above  Milieu 
Junction.  A  space  of  ground  some  three  hundred  feet 
square,  enclosed  by  a  stockade,  without  any  covering  what 
soever,  was  the  hole  where  thousands  of  our  brave  soldiers 
have  been  confined  for  many  months  past.  Exposed  to 
heavy  dews,  the  biting  frosts,  the  pelting  rains,  without  so 
much  as  a  board,  or  a  tent  even  to  protect  these  poor  naked 
fellows,  who  were  almost  always  robbed  of  their  clothing 
when  captured.  Some  of  them  had  adopted  a  wretched 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  317 

alternative,  holes  in  the  ground,  into  which  they  crept  at 
times.  What  wonder  that  we  found  the  evidence  that  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  had  died  there.  From  what  misery  did 
death  release  them ! 

I  can  realize  it  all  now,  as  I  could  not  even  when  listen 
ing  to  the  stories  of  prisoners  who  had  fled  from  this  hell; 
escaped  the  devils  in  hot  pursuit  —  foiled  the  keen  scent  of 
the  track  hounds  put  upon  their  path.  Here  is  the  use 
lessly  cruel  pen  where  my  brothers  have  been  tortured  with 
exposure  and  starvation.  God  will  certainly  visit  the 
authors  of  this  crime  with  his  terrible  lightning.  Jeff 
Davis  knew  that  the  Northern  people  would  see  the  con 
dition  of  the  victims  of  Belle  Island. 

How  fearful  must  be  the  treatment  of  those  who  arc 
removed  far  from  the  hope  of  exchange.  You  at  the 
]^orth  may  not  feel  the  necessity  of  retaliation,  and  may 
continue  to  clothe  warmly,  feed  plentifully,  and  com 
fortable  house  the  rebel  prisoners  who  are  happier  far  than 
if  free  with  their  commands,  but  you  must  not  expect  those 
who  have  and  those  who  may  endure  these  agonies,  to  feel 
or  act  with  the  same  extravagance  of  generosity. 

KILLING    BLOOD -HOUNDS. 

A  significant  feature  of  this  campaign  which  was  not 
before  mentioned  in  this  diary,  received  a  marked  illustra 
tion  yesterday.  Except  in  a  few  instances,  private  res 
idences  have  not  been  destroyed.  Yesterday  we  passed 
the  plantation  of  Mr.  Stubbs.  The  house,  cotton  gin, 
press,  corn  ricks,  stable,  everything  that  could  burn,  was 
in  flames,  and  in  the  door-yard  lay  the  dead  bodies  of  several 
blood-hounds  that  had  been  used  to  track  and  pull  down 
negroes  and  our  escaped  prisoners.  And  wherever  our 
army  has  passed,  everything  in  the  shape  of  a  dog  has 
been  killed.  The  soldiers  and  officers  are  determined  that 
no  flying  fugitives,  white  men  or  negroes,  shall  be  followed 
by  track-hounds  that  coine  withiu  reach  of  their  powder 
and  ball. 


818  HISTORY   OF   THE 

REVIEW  OF  SHERMAN'S   MARCH  THROUGH  GEORGIA  —  FROM  THE 
SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  —  BY  MAJOR  JAMES  S.   REEVES. 

SAVANNAH,  GA.,  December  21,  1864. 
T.  M.  STEVENSON  : 

Dear  Sir  —  Thus  ends  our  third  campaign  since  the 
Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  0.  V.  V.  I.  left  Ohio,  in  May 
last.  Our  march  from  Clifton,  Tennessee,  to  Big  Shanty, 
Georgia,  was  without  opposition,  for  the  rebel  army  had 
been  beaten  back,  and  we  found  it  at  a  stand  upon  Ivenesaw 
Mountain.  Then  commenced  a  series  of  Hank  movements 
which  baffled  the  rebel  Generals,  and  forced  them  back  to 
Atlanta,  where  for  a  time  they  held  their  position.  Again 
General  Sherman  cut  loose  from  his  base,  and  drew  Gen 
eral  Hood  into  a  battle,  and  defeated  him  at  Jonesboro,  and 
captured  Atlanta. 

It  was  now  the  turn  of  the  rebels  to  play  the  same  game, 
and  cut  Sherman  off  and  force  him  to  leave  Atlanta,  and 
by  a  rapid  movement  Hood  crossed  the  Chattahoochie, 
struck  the  railroad  in  Sherman's  rear,  and  cut  it  at  Big 
Shanty,  then  moving  north  along  the  road,  they  tore  up 
the  track,  sweeping  everything  as  they  went,  until  they 
came  to  Altoona,  where  General  Corse  made  a  gallant 
defense,  and  they  met  with  a  signal" and  bloody  repulse. 
Our  army  was  put  in  motion,  and  moved  rapidly  after  them 
through  Altoona,  Etowah,  Kingston  and  toward  Home* 

Then  we  crossed  over  by  a  tedious  night  march  to  Adairs- 
ville,  and  pushed  on  to  Ixesaea,  and  sending  our  Corps  over 
the  mountain,  turned  the  rebels  from  the  railroad,  drove 
them  through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  then  through  Ship  Gap, 
past  Summerville,  and  over  into  Alabama.  ~\VQ  rested  on 
Little  river,  near  Gaylesville,  then  moved  southward,  crossed 
the  Coosa,  and  passing  by  Cave  spring,  Adairsville,  Dallas, 
and  Lost  Mountain,  reached  Smyrna  Church,  near  Marietta. 

While  marching  up  the  road  we  repaired  it,  and  while 
we  rested  at  Smyrna  trains  ran  from  Louisville  to  Atlanta. 
Our  army  was  paid,  clothed,  supplied  with  rations  and 
rested ;  the  teams  and  wagons  made  good,  and  everything 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  810 

prepared  for  another  movement.  Our  sick  had  been  sent 
North,  reinforcements  received,  transportation  cut  down, 
citizens,  State,  Sanitary  and  Christian  Commission  agents, 
refugees  and  contrabands  were  ordered  North,  condemned 
property  was  destroyed,  and  the  last  mail  received. 

Finally  the  last  train  of  cars  moved  off,  and  the  whole 
army  went  to  the  road  and  destroyed  it  from  Atlanta  to 
Chattanooga,  and  then  marched  to  Atlanta.  We  stopped 
there  but  a  day,  and  in  that  time  destroyed  the  depots,  all 
Government  property,  and  everything  which  could  aid  a 
rebel  in  doing  mischief,  then  bid  adieu  to  the  place,  and 
pursuing  the  McDonough's  road,  plunged  further  into 
"Dixie."  We  moved  in  columns  on  different  roads,  and 
went  as  four  stalwart  mowers  would  move  across  a  field, 
mowing  a  swath  fifty  miles  wide.  The  Seventeenth  Corps 
passed  through  Monticello,  and  struck  the  Central  Georgia 
Kailroad  at  Gordon.  Another  column  went  to  Milledge- 
ville.  At  Gordon  we  rested  a  short  time,  and  heard  cannon 
ading  toward  Macon,  and  learned  soon  after  that  Ilardee's  old 
troops  came  out  from  Macon  to  punish  the  "  Yankees  ;  "  a 
tight  ensued  and  they  hurried  back  to  Macon  with  the 
certainty  that  they  had  lost  three  hundred  men  killed  and 
as  many  more  wounded  in  the  skirmish,  and  that  was  the 
last  we  saw  of  the  rebels. 

After  destroying  the  railroad  from  Gordon  to  Milledge- 
ville,  and  some  miles  in  the  direction  of  Macon,  we  started 
for  Savannah.  When  we  crossed  the  Ocmulgee  river  wo 
destroyed  the  Government  factories  there,  and  all  the  mills 
on  the  road.  Foraging  the  country  as  we  went,  we  fared 
sumptuously,  for  we  found  the  land  flowing  with  milk,  hon 
ey  and  Confederate  scrip.  Our  jaded  horses  and  mules  were 
turned  out,  and  fine  animals  conscripted  to  serve  in  their 
stead,  and  we  progressed  finely,  and  waxed  fat  and  jolly. 

The  Governor  of  Georgia  fumed,  and  delivered  himself 
of  a  proclamation,  calling  upon  every  male  citizen  to  rally 
around  the  State  flag:  rise  in  their  might;  burn  their 
crops;  destroy  their  food;  turn  loose  their  hogs;  run  oil 


320  HISTORY    OF    THE 

their  horses  and  cattle  ;  fell  trees  across  the  road  ;  burn  the 
bridges,  and  annihilate  Sherman  and  his  adventurous 
Yankees.  The  Legislature  had  already  passed  an  act  call 
ing  out  the  State  troops,  and  making  conscripts  of  all  men 
and  boys,  but  by  a  special  clause  exempted  themselves,  then 
adjourned  to  Macon.  We  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  our 
way  unmolested,  for  the  people  did  not  make  any  haste  to 
obey  the  Governor,  and  we  crossed  the  Oconee,  Camauchee, 
Little  and  Great  Ogeeche  rivers,  and  arrived  at  Milieu, 
where  a  branch  road  runs  to  Augusta.  A  small  body  of 
rebel  State  troops  had  thrown  up  some  earthworks  at  this 
point,  but  fled  as  we  approached.  After  burning  the  depot 
and  tearing  up  the  road  about  fifteen  miles  toward 
Augusta,  we  traveled  on  and  found  the  country  growing 
more  flat  and  swampy,  and  had  to  corduroy  our  roads  the 
most  of  the  way  from  there  to  Savannah.  All  the  cotton, 
cotton  gins  and  presses  were  destroyed  along  the  entire 
route.  At  Station  Xo.  2  we  met  a  force  entrenched  with 
two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  found  our  road  obstructed  by 
fallen  timber.  Our  advance  charged  their  works,  when 
they  fled  without  a  fight,  and  we  met  no  more  resistance 
until  we  were  within  seven  miles  of  the  city,  and  ran 
against  their  line  and  battled. 

Our  lines  were  formed  and  we  rested  until  morning,  when 
we  found  that  the  rice  swamps,  which  extended  from  the 
Savannah  to  the  Ogeeche  rivers,  (and  become  more  trouble 
some  as  we  approached  the  coast,)  had  been  flooded,  and 
the  roads  were  all  defended.  Swinging  around  to  the 
right,  the  Third  Division  took  position  east  of  the  canal,  on 
the  plank  road,  near  Silk  Hope.  While  our  lino  extended 
far  to  the  right,  a  portion  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps  went  down 
the  Great  Ogeeche  river,  and  after  a  brief  engagement 
captured  Fort  McAlister,  and  opened  tha  way  to  our  fleet 
and  we  were  again  in  communication  with  our  friends. 

In  so  long  and  interesting  a  march,  we  could  not  help 
meeting  with  many  incidents  worthy  of  special  notice ; 
were  they  half  noted  it  would  fill  a  volume,  and  I  can  only 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.    I.  321 

skim  over  the  ground  to  tell  you  that  we  were  there,  and 
that  now  we  are  here.  The  rice  plantations  are  made  to. 
include  a  strip  of  land,  which  extends  for  miles,  and  which 
is  elevated  a  few  feet  above  the  general  level.  It  is  compar 
atively  dry,  and  affords  ground  for  the  fine  mansion,  gin 
houses,  negro  quarters  and  rice  mills. 

The  face  of  the  country  is  generally  undulating,  and 
much  of  it  is  marshy.  The  low  lands  are  laid  off  in  squares 
of  perhaps  five  hundred  acres  each,  divided  by  embank> 
ments  of  earth,  and  so  arranged  as  to  be  subject  to  inunda^ 
tion  at  the  will  of  the  planter,  A  more  than  ordinary 
depression  of  the  surface  extends  in  a  semi-circle  around 
Savannah,  about  eight  miles  from  the  city,  and  by  closing 
the  sluices,  the  rebels  had  formed  a  water  barrier  to  the 
advance  of  our  troops,  about  one  thousand  yards  wide,  and 
hud  built  forts  and  planted  cannon  at  all  the  accessible 
points,  and  held  us  at  b.iy. 

General  Sherman's  first  care  was  to  put  himself  in  com 
munication  with  Fort  McAllister,  capturing  two  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  and  twenty-two  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
having  received  a  supply  of  bread  and  forage  sufficient  for 
the  entire  urmy,  he  sent  the  rebel  General  notice  that  if  the 
city  was  not  surrendered  within  three  days  he  would  take 
it.  The  rebel  troops  immediately  crossed  the  Savannah 
river,  leaving  their  cannon  in  the  forts  and  city,  an  immense 
amount  of  ammunition,  ordnance  stores,  eighteen  fine  loco 
motives  and  seven  railroad  cars,  several  steam  vessels,  and  a 
very  large  amount  of  other  Government  property. 

Over  two  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  were  surrendered, 
the  most  of  them  in  fine  order.  Jn  the  thirty-seven  days 
that  we  wore  marching,  we  wore  completely  cut  off  from 
oar  mails,  newspapers,  telegraph,  express  and  reinforce 
ments —  yet  a  more  contented,  fearless,  determined  and 
confident  body  of  men  could  not  be  found  on  earth  —  so 
completely  were  we  in  possession  of  the  land,  that  our 
foraging  parties  would  go  full  fifteen  miles  across  tho 

21 


322  DISTORT  or  TUB 

country,  and  but  few  men  were  captured.  The  Third 
Division  lost  a  few  men,  who  were  picked  up,  and  sixteen 
men  were  wounded  and  one  killed  during  the  short  siege. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  lost  two  hy  capture,  but  fortu 
nately  had  none  killed  or  wounded,  although  constantly 
exposed  to  the  shells  of  the  enemy,  while  opposite  the 
rebel  forts,  and  in  the  skirmish  line. 

Savannah  is  a  large  and  beautiful  city,  and  was  of  far 
greater  importance  to  the  rebels  than  was  supposed.  Here, 
for  the  first  time,  the  people  are  submissive,  and  acknowl 
edge  our  power.  In  other  places  they  were  defiant  and 
insolent,  but  we  see  now  the  evidence  that  the  conviction 
is  deep,  that  our  army  can  go  over  the  Confederacy  at  will, 
and  they  have  no  army  to  stand  before  it. 

We  now  hold  the  key  to  Charleston,  Augusta,  Columbia  ^ 
and  can  move  upon  either  point.  The  health  of  the  army 
is  good.  There  are  but  thirty-four  sick,  and  two  wounded 
men  in  the  Third  Division  hospital.  Only  forty-eight  sick 
and  wounded  men  were  sent  away.  How  long  we  will 
remain  at  Savannah,  or  where  we  will  go,  will  be  learned  in 
time. 

On  the  llth  of  January  the  throe  years  of  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  will  expire,,  and  then  some  of  tbo 
officers  and  the  non-veteran  soldiers  will  go  home. 


SAVASffAH,  BEAUFORT,  POOOTALIGO,  COLUM 
BIA  AND  MARCH  TO  TAYLORSVILLE  AN"!) 
GOLDSBORO,  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

In  the  preceding  chapter  we  gave  a  mere  outline  of  the 
march  through  Georgia  to  Savannah,  where  wo  encamped 
a  few  clays.  The  inarch  was  an  entire  success.  The  regi 
ment  lost  but  few  men.  Joel  Runyan,  killed  at  Saridens- 
ville;  Robert  Hanson,  taken  prisoner,  and  has  not  been 
heard  of  since ;  Cyrus  Trace,  prisoner,  was  exchanged  ; 
private  Townsend  died  near  Savannah ;  Joseph  Gleason 
and  William  F.  Huffman  died  in  Savannah. 

Savannah  is  the  largest,  and  was,  previous  to  the  rebellion, 
the  most  flourishing  commercial  city  of  the  State.  It  is^  to 
the  east  what  New  Orleans  is  to  the  west.  The  city  is  built 
on  a  sandy  plain,  about  forty  feet  above  low  water  mark. 
A  considerable  extent  of  rice  swamp  lands  lie  in  its  rear, 
the  exhalations  from  which  render  the  city  unhealthy  at 
certain  seasons  of  the  year.  The  streets  are  wide,  unpaved 
and  s  indy,  but  laid  out  with  great  regularity,  and  well 
shade. I  with  trees.  There  are  twenty-four  public  squares, 
each  of  considerable  extent,  and  all  closely  shaded  with 
Pride  of  India  trees.  Grassy  promenades  run  through  thw 
middle  of  two  of  the  streets,  Broad  and  Bay,  having  am  pi  a 
thoroughfares  on  each  side. 

Nearly  all  the  building  j  are  built  of  brick,  and  all  of  very 
neat  design  and  finish,  and  give  evidence  of  great  wealth. 


324  HISTORY   OF   THE 

The  city  contains  a  new  custom  house,  built  in  1860.  It  is 
one  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  length,  fifty-two  feet  in  width, 
costing  the  government  $173,000. 

There  is  also  a  State  arsenal,  theater,  court  house,  a  city 
exchange,  artillery  armory,  jail  and  other  public  buildings, 
all  of  costly  and  imposing  appearance.  There  are  fourteen 
Protestant  and  three  Catholic  Churches,  a  Jewish  Syna 
gogue,  and  a  public  library,  containing  seven  thousand 
volumes. 

The  public  squares  are  ornamented  with  many  interesting 
monuments.  One  erected  to  the  memory  of  General  Green, 
and  one  imposing  structure  in  honor  of  Pulaski,  who  ieli 
in  an  attack  upon  Savannah  in  October,  1779,  then  held  by 
the  British. 

The  whole  space  between  Savannah  and  the  ocean  is  cut 
up  and  intersected  by  rivers,  creeks,  cuts,  swamps  and  open 
ings. 

The  city  is  the  most  beautiful  we  have  seen  in  the  South, 
The  most  wealthy  and  enterprising,  and  a  present  population 
of  125,000  inhabitants,  who  manifest  less  malignancy  toward 
the  Yankee  than  we  have  seen  elsewhere.  We  saw  only 
one  evidence  of  disrespect,  which  was  in  the  burial  of  the 
prisoners  of  our  army. 

We  find  quite  a  number  buried  outside  their  fortifications 
by  the  wayside,  General  G.  F.  Wiles,  commanding  the 
Second  Brigade,  had  a  strong  stockade  placed  around  the 
graveyard,  which  was  about  one  acre  in  extent.  Thus  a 
friendly  hand,  too  late  for  relief,  came  finally  to  do  honor  to 
their  last  resting  place,  by  placing  around  them  an  enclo 
sure  that  would  guard  their  sacred  dust  from  the  feet  of 
inhuman  and  barbarous  rebels.  Surely  their  friends  will 
feel  lasting  gratitude  to  General  Wiles  for  this  kind  regard 
.of  those  who  have  died  from  unfriendly  neglect  and  barba 
rous  enmity. 

The  ciity  <0f  Savannah  was  entered  by  our  troops  on   the 

morning  of   the   21st  of  December.     General  llardee,  in 

tconotxuanl    of  the    rebel   forces,  anticipating    the  general 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  325 

assault  which  General  Sherman  had  ordered  that  morning, 
escaped  with  the  main  body  of  his  infantry  toward  Charles 
ton,  the  night  of  the  20th. 

The  rebel  iron-clads  were  blown  up  and  the  navy-yard 
burned. 

The  captures  include  eight  hundred  prisoners,  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  guns,  thirteen  locomotives  in  good  order,  one 
hundred  and  ninety  cars,  a  large  supply  of  ammunition  and 
materials  of  war,  and  thirty-three  thousand  bales  of  cotton 
safely  stored  in  warehouses. 

LETTER   FROM    THE   SEVENTY-EIGHTH. 

POCOTALIGO  STATION,  S.  AND  C.  RAILROAD,         ) 
January  18th,  1865.      / 

Dear  Editor:— -Short  and   pleasant  was   our  stay   at  the 
beautiful  and  non-loyal  Forest  City  of  Georgia.     The  17th 
Corps  left  it  tho  evening  of  the  5th,  and  marched  to  Thun 
derbolt,  five   miles  from  Savannah,  and  next   morning  the 
Third  Division,  commanded  by  General  Leggett,  embarked 
upon    steamers,    passed  down  the  Wilmington   river   and 
through  the  Warsaw  sound,  and  entered  the   rough    ocean. 
After  a  stormy,  rough  sail,  landed  at  Beaufort  at  10  P.  M., 
jind  next  morning  encamped  about  four  miles  from  the  town. 
Beaufort  is  pleasantly  located  on  the  Beaufort  river,  Port 
Royal  Island,  and  was  the  home  of  aristocracy.      It   was  a 
place  of  great  wealth   and  influence.     Every  dwelling  is   a 
palace  built   iu    costly  style,  presenting  an  air   of  neatness, 
comfort   and   pleasure.      It   was  captured  by  our  troops, 
November  7th,  1862.     All  the  inhabitants  left  but  one,  and 
lie  says  he  would  have  acted  the  fool  like  the  rest,  but  was 
too  drunk  at  the  time.     This  one  man  still   remains,  and   is 
doing  a  flourishing  mercantile  business.      The  town  is  now 
settled  with  Northern  families,  who  are,  some  in  the  service 
of  the  Government,  some  engaged   in   mercantile  pursuits, 
and  some  are  becoming  immensely  wealthy  in  the  cultivation 
of  cotton  upon  plantations  either  bought  or   rented   of  the 
Government.     The  Island  is  ten  or  twelve  miles  square;  the 


$'25  HISTORY   OF   THE 

*oil  very  rich.  Part  of  it  has  heen  sold  to  Northern  men, 
nnd  part  appropriated  by  the  Government  for  educational 
purposes,  and  as  the  establishment  of  schools  for  the  contra 
bands.  There  are  about  one  hundred  teachers,  principally 
ladies  from  the  North,  employed  for  the  purpose. 

The  people  hearing  so  much  about  Sherman rs  army  and 
its  vandalism,  were  here  somewhat  frightened  when  the 
Seventeenth  Corps  arrived;  even  the  Fost  Paymaster  buried 
the  few  ''greenbacks"  he  had  on  hand.  But  the  men 
proved  themselves,  by  their  conduct,  that  they  could  and 
would  respect  the  property  of  loyal  people  ;  although  ready 
and  quick  to  destroy  and  lay  waste  in  rebeldora,  they  were 
as  ready  and  quick  to  let  alone  when  among  loyal  people. 
This  fact  shows  that  our  army  is  certainly  the  best  disci 
plined  in  the  world,  and  that  they  act  from  necessity  and  by 
motives  of  duty  and  principle,  whether  among  the  loyal  or 
rebellious.  We  received  nothing  but  kindness,  good  will 
and  favor  from  the  people  in  Beaufort,  and  received  full  ra 
tions  for  the  men  and  forage  for  the  horses,  for  the  first  time 
in  nine  months.  Quartermasters  and  Government  agents 
eeein  much  more  accommodating  and  obliging  than  in  the 
West,  and  rations  are  of  much  better  quality . 

We  remained  upon  the  Island  from  the  7th  to  the  13th, 
when  we  broke  tip  camp,  bid  farewell  to  the  pleasant  land 
and  marched  to  tl.e  Cccsa  river,  which  bounds  the  Island 
on  the  north,  and  is  navigable  for  the  largest  boats.  The 
rebels  made  their  appearance  on  the  opposite  shore,  and 
opposed  our  crossing  as  they  had  successfully  done  te> 
Foster  and  others.  The  opposite  shore  was  strongly  forti 
fied,  and  had  been  the  object  of  frequent  attacks  by -our 
gunboats  and  iron-clads.  About  10  P.  M.  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  the  Sixty-Eighth  and  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio 
embarked  on  skirls  and  crossed  without  opposition.  The 
rebels,  learning  they  were  of  Sherman's  army,  fled  without 
firing  a  gun.  By  dawn  of  day  the  pontoons  were  stretched 
across  the  river,  and  the  remainder  of  the  Division  and 
trains  crossed  and  were  again  in  rebeldom. 


SEVEXTr-EWHTK   REGIMENT  0.   V.   V.   L  327 

Before  day-dawn,  while  standing  on  the  river  bank  hold 
ing-  my  horse,  a  stranger  came  forward  from  the  crowd  and 
addressed  ni3.  I  did  not  at  first  recognize  him,  but  he 
proved  to  be  Captain  C.  M.  Roberts,  who  had  just  returned 
from  an  absence  of  over  two  years,  to  his  regiment,  who,, 
aftar  crossing  and  ex?hanging  a  few  salutations  with  officers 
and  men,  entered  upon  his  official  duties  by  taking  command 
of  a  company;  he,  with  his  grave  but  pleasant  face,  soldierly 
bearing  and  respectful  manner,  is  more  than  welcomed  back 
to  his  regiment. 

The  Third  Division,  under  command  of  General  Legget% 
with  his  two  best  Brigade  commanders,  General  Force, 
First,  and  Colonel  G.  F.  Wiles,  Second  Brigade,  moved 
forward.  Skirmishing  soon  commenced,  the  rebels  rapidly 
falling  back  to  fortifications  on  the  opposite  side  of  an  exten 
sive  rice  swamp.  Colonel  Wiles  quickly  deployed  the 
Twentieth  Ohio  as  skirmishers,  in  front  of  the  enemy's 
works,  which  opened  a  brisk  fire.  Artillery  was  also  placed 
in  position,  which  opened  with  good  effect  upon  their  work*. 
The  First  Brigade,  under  General  Force,  accompanied  by 
General  Lcggctt,  moved  upon  another  road,  which  flanked 
two  strong  lines  of  works.  These  the  rebels  left  and  fell 
back  to  a  third  line,  near  Sundown  ;  the  Division  moved 
upon  the  third  line.  The  Forty-Fifth  Illinois  being 
deployed  rs  skirmishers  here,  lost  several  killed  and 
wounded ;  among  the  killed  was  General  Force's  picket 
officer.  The  approach  of  night  prevented  farther  opera 
tions,  and  the  Division  encamped.  Next  morning  our 
Division,  moved  forward  —  having  now  the  advance  for 
three  days,  they  found  the  strongest  works  we  have  ever 
seen  in  the  Confederacy,  built  two  years  ago,  and  evacuated 
by  the  rebels.  The  Division  advanced  to  the  Savannah  and. 
Charleston  railroad,  and  encamped  at  the  station,  to  await 
the  arrival  and  concentration  of  the  army,  when  a  rapid 

movement  will  be  made  upon .     In  this  movement 

General  Leggett  handled  his  Division  with  great  efficiency. 
Thus  one  Division  of  two  Brigades,  advanced  from  Port 


328  HISTORY   OP   THE 

Koyal  and  took  possession  of  this  railroad,  which  other 
Generals  with  probably  five  times  the  force,  made  seven 
attempts  and  as  often  failed,  General  Foster  included. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  is  in  good  health,  and 
never  stood  higher  in  efficiency  and  military  reputation, 
Surgeon's  call  is  thinly  attended.  There  has  been  four 
deaths  since  leaving  Atlanta,  added  to  which  list  is  the  name 
of  David  Willis. 

Our  new  line  officers  promoted  from  Sergeants,  are  prov 
ing  themselves  fully  competent  for  their  new  position. 

The  day  of  retribution  has  now  come  to  South  Carolina. 
She  is  now  and  will  in  a  few  days  receive  a  raking,  and  a 
sweeping  scourge  will  pass  over  her  that  is-  frightful  to  con 
template. 

The  Seventeenth  Corps  left  Pocotaligo  on  January  30th, 
and  met  with  no  opposition  until  reaching  Saltkihatchie 
river,  where  the  enemy  had  an  impregnable  position  and 
defended  by  heavy  works.  Nearly  all  rivers  here  are  inac 
cessible,  and  can  only  be  approached  by  a  series  of  bridges 
and  corduroy  roads,  probably  a  mile  before  we  can  reach 
the  main  stream;  at  the  above  river  the  men  waded  into 
these  swamps  and  back  water,  and  skirmished  with  the 
enemy.  One  Division  crossed  between  the  works  and 
flanked  them,  while  another  Division  charged  in  front. 
Here  quite  a  number  of  prisoners  were  taken.  In  this  fight 
the  Second  Brigade,  under  Colonel  Wiles,  engaged  the 
enemy  upon  its  right  flank,  and  that  night  encamped  at  the 
fires  the  rebels  had  built  near  Barker's  mill,  Next  day  the 
Brigade  moved  to  the  enemy's  left  flank,  while  the  First 
Division  engaged  the  front,  the  Fourth  crossed  the  river. 

The  next  place  of  any  consequence  was  the  Edisto  river. 
The  Second  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division  being  in  front, 
engaged  the  enemy's  works  across  the  river.  Here  one  of 
Company  K,  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio,  was  severely  wounded. 
Next  morning  the  Third  Division  moved  down  the  river 
one  mile  and  a  half  from  Orangeburg,  crossed  the  river,  the 
main  stream,  on  pontoons,,  and  waded  a  swamp  three  hun- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0.    V.   V.   I.  329 

dred  yards  wide,  and  from  three  to  five  deep.  The  enemy 
ascertaining  that  we  were  crossing,  fled.  Captain  Roberts, 
with  his  foragers,  was  the  first  to  cross,  and  skirmished  with 
one  whole  cavalry  regiment,  driving  them  rapidly  before 
him.  Orangeburg  was  a  beautiful  town  of  about  two 
thousand  five  hundred  inhabitants,  but  the  effect  of  war 
here  marred  its  beauty  and  laid  its  fine  mansions  in  ashc-s, 
Here  is  located  the  Charleston  Orphan  Asylum,  removed 
from  that  city  at  the  commencement  of  the  bombardment. 
Early  in  the  morning  I  with  several  paid  a  visit  to  the  insti 
tutions;  we  entered  the  dining  room  where  were  about  two 
hundred  and  ninety  children  seated  around  tables  eating 
breakfast,  which  was  chiefly  mush  and  molasses*  All  were 
dressed  clean  and  neat.  We  remained  until  school  opened, 
which  was  under  the  care  of  Miss  A.  K.  Irwin,  a  most  esti 
mable  and  Christian  lady  from  ^N"ew  York,  who  was  the  first 
to  establish  a  union  school  system  in  the  State.  She  liai 
eight  assistants. 

The  opening  exercises  were  impressive  and  very  interest 
ing.  I  have  never  seen  a  finer  exhibition  of  discipline,  nor 
better  music  and  singing.  I  noticed  the  tears  start  in  the 
eyes  of  some  soldiers  present.  What  a  contrast  this  sweet 
and  beautiful  scene  with  the  terrible  realities  of  war  and  its 
sad  results,  an  exhibition  of  which  could  be  seen  from  every 
window  of  the  Asylum.  At  that  moment  fine  houses  were 
wrapped  in  flames;  on  the  streets  were  to  be  seen  little 
children  gathered  around  a  few  coals  of  fire  left  by  some 
soldiers  ;  also  women  and  fine  looking  young  Indies  sitting 
weeping  and  guarding  a  few  tilings  saved  from  their  burn 
ing  houses,  and  where  to  direct  their  steps  for  a  temporary 
resting  place  they  knew  not,  and  not  a  morsel  of  food  could 
be  obtained  this  side  of  thirty  miles  on  either  extreme. 

The  railroad  wTas  destroyed  arid  all  other  means  of  trans 
portation  removed  by  our  army.  These  poor  saddened 
hearts,  we  could  do  little  for  them  to  lift  the  burden  of 
sorrow  now  pressing  so  heavily  upon  them,  but  bid  them 
look  up  to  Him  who  was  a  refuge  in  time  of  trouble,  and 


3-30  HISTOKY    OF   THK 

whose  ears  were  open  to  the  cries  of  the  needy.  That 
morning  the  Corps  moved  on  toward  Columbia,  destroying 
the  railroad  on  its  way.  All  unoccupied  buildings  were 
burnt ;  many  fine  mansions,  the  abodes  of  wealth,  grandeur 
and  happiness,  were  deserted  by  their  occupants,  and  stood 
lonely,  inviting  the  hand  of  some  plundering  soldier  to 
apply  the  torch, 

On  the  16th  the  Corps  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the 
Congare3,  oppos'te  Columbia,  which  gave  rise  to  heavy 
skirmishing.  Th?y  left  all  their  heavy  works  on  this  side 
of  the  river.  The  city  presented  a  beautiful  appearance. 
The  next  day  the  rebels  evacuated  the  place,  having  burned 
all  the  bridges.  That  afternoon  and  night  the  Fifteenth 
and  Seventeenth  Corps  crossed  and  occupied  the  city. 
There  was  concentrated  much  of  the  wealth  of  the  State; 
the  stores  and  much  of  the  costly  furniture  of  Charleston 
were  brought  here  for  security.  The  people  conducted 
themselves  with  becoming  demeanor,  and  treated  the  sol 
diers  with  much  courtesy  and  respect;  but  very  impru 
dently,  yet  meant  in  kindness,  set  out  their  wines  and 
liquors  to  them. 

The  citizens  little  thought  their  beautiful  city  would  next 
morning  be  a  mass  of  smoking  ruins.  There  were  many 
things  conspiring  for  the  destruction  of  the  city.  In  the 
afternoon  a  furious  storm  of  wind  arose  and  blew  continu 
ously  with  the  violence  of  a  hurricane  till  late  at  night. 
All  the  encampments  caught  fire  and  drove  the  men  from 
the  woods.  The  rebels  put  lire  to  cotton  and  to  their  com 
missary,  which  soon  communicated  the  flames  to  adjacent 
buildings.  Soon  others  were  set  on  lire,  the  wind  carrying 
the  flames  with  unconquerable  rapidity.  Escaped  prisoners 
and  drunken  soldiers  soon  began  to  apply  the  torch  all  over 
the  city,  and  by  midnight  it  was  an  ocean  of  flames.  Six 
regiments  were  quickly  sent  to  aid  the  citizens  and  guard 
every  house,  and  soldiers  from  all  regiments  worked  faith 
fully  in  rescuing  people  from  burning  houses  and  carrying 
the  sick  to  safe  places. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  331 

One  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  entered  a  burning  building, 
and  carried  in  his  arms  a  considerable  distance  a  woman, 
and  with  her  a  child  three  days  old.  Many  such  incidents 
occurred.  One  poor  mother,  in  her  confusion  and  terror, 
forgot  her  children,  who  were  asleep  up  stairs.  The  lire 
spread  so  rapidly  that  almost  immediately  all  entrance  was 
cut  off.  The  frantic  mother  called  to  her  children  from  the 
street,  and  the  screams  of  the  children  and  calls  to  mother 
could  be  distinctly  heard.  In  a  few  minutes  the  flames,  in 
their  mad  rage,  seemed  to  draw  the  building  from  its  foun 
dation,  and  it  was  consumed  with  almost  the  rapidity  of  an 
explosion;  here  and  there  could  bo  seen  persons  jumping  from 
the  second  stories.  -The  faithfulness  of  the  guard  saved  many 
from  perishing.  A\re  have  heard  of  the  sacking  and  burn 
ing  of  cities,  but  to  be  a  spectator  to  it  beggars  all  descrip 
tion.  It  is  grand,  sublime  and  terrible.  The  next  morning' 
when  riding  through  the  ruins  of  the  city,  all  was  quiet  and 
still  as  death ;  broken  furniture  and  charred  fragments 
covered  the  streets,  and  burnt  walls  stood  black,  shattered 
and  lonely.  I  could  not  restrain  the  dropping  tear  of  pain 
and  regret.  In  the  parks  and  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city, 
women  were  sitting  and  guarding  a  few  things  saved  and 
carried  there  by  the  arm  of  some  kind  hearted  soldier. 
Major  Mills,  of  the  Seventy-Eighth,  carried  upon  his  horse 
women  and  children  outside  the  burning  part  of  the  city, 
until  nearly  morning. 

The  next  day  soldiers  seemed  not  cheerful ;  their  hearts 
went  back  in  sympathy  with  the  suffering  people.  All 
condemned  and  regretted  the  city  had  been  burnt,  but 
whom  to  blame  they  scarcely  knew.  It  was  bui'nt  in  a 
mysterious  manner.  Some  how  it  was  burnt,  none  could 
tell,  arid  no  one  intended  or  thought  of  such  a  thing  the 
evening  before.  Thus  the  city  where  the  first  ordinance  of 
secession  was  passed  has  received  a  retribution  severe,  if  not 
righteous:  terrible,  if  not  just. 

The  Corps  moved  on  the  next  morning,  destroying  the 
railroad,  and  arrived  at  Winnsboro,  Eebruary  2^d.  The 
other  column,  the  left  wing,  arrived  at  the  place  the  previoua 


332  HISTORY    OF    THE 

evening.  The  town  is  situated  in  a  beautiful,  rich,  country, 
and  is  the  home  of  wealthy  planters  and  South  Carolina 
bloods,  a  people  in  this  State  at  enmity  with  all,  and  in 
sympathy  only  with  the  nobles  in  Europe,  hating  all  demo 
cratic  institutions.  This  town  is  a  place  of  some  celebrity, 
almost  every  house  presents  an  imposing  appearance. 
The  women  exhibit  less  timidity  than  in  some  other  places  ; 
they  and  the  children  were  dressed  in  their  best  style,  and 
some  with  a  show  of  much  wealth.  They  were  free  and 
bold  to  express  their  opinions,  and  advocated  the  most 
intense  secession.  Here  we  may  observe  that  the  women 
from  Columbia  northward  are  much  better  educated,  more 
intelligent,  and  appear  to  have  more  of  the  sprightliness, 
activity  and  brightness  of  the  Northern  girls  ;  their  com 
plexions  are  not  so  much  affected  by  the  low  flats  and 
swamps  of  the  South.  The  women  of  the  South,  in  gen 
eral,  have  a  haughtier  air,  a  more  commanding  appearance 
than  Northern  women.  The  Southern  lady  has  deeper  and 
stronger  feelings;  the  Northern  more  sensitive  and  refined, 
more  timid  and  modest. 

The  Corps  halted  here  but  a  few  hours,  and  turned  east 
ward  toward  the  Wateree,  which  they  crossed  on  the  23d. 
The  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  some  days  was  in  the  rear,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  guard  the  train.  This  night  was  the  most  dis 
agreeable  of  the  campaign.  The  regiment  stood  the  whole 
night  upon  the  river  bank,  under  a  heavy  cold  rain,  and  in 
mud  from  three  inches  to  no  bottom.  It  did  not  get  tho 
train  all  over  until  morning,  having  only  a  few  minutes  to 
halt  and  then  move  on  with  the  train,  the  other  Divisions 
having  considerably  the  advance,  by  having  good  road.-. 

The  next  morning  the  teams  of  the  Third  Division  were 
all  mud  bound.  Colonel  Wiles  stretched  his  Brigade  along 
the  road  of  two  or  three  miles  of  teams,  making  new  roads 
and  corduroying  old  ones.  That  day  the  Brigade  made  teu 
miles  of  roads  and  brought  the  teams  up  thirteen  miles. 

On  the  3d  of  March  we  encamped  twelve  miles  from 
Cheraw.  It  rained  nearly  all  the  time  since  leaving  Winns- 


SEVEXTY-Err.IlTH    REGIMENT    O.V.    V.    I.  663 

boro.  The  3d  wo  rcniainod  in  camp,  and  on  that  day  the 
First  Brigade  of  the  Third  Third  Division  had  a  very 
unpleasant  duty  to  perform  —  the  execution  of  a  rebel  pris 
oner,  in  retaliation  for  the  murder  of  one  of  their  foragers. 
This  was  done  in  compliance  with  an  order  from  General 
Sherman,  issued  to  protect  our  foragers.  The  man  was 
chosen  hy  lot,  which  fell  upon  a  good  old  grey  haired  rnun, 
the  father  of  nine  children,  and  a  subject  of  the  cruel 
system  of  conscription.  The  act  was  one  of  the  terrible 
necessities  of  war,  but  it  had  better  not  be  done,  and  I  am 
certain  will  fail  in  the  object  intended. 

On  the  4th  of  March  the  Seventeenth  Corps  entered 
Cheraw,  on  the  Pedee  river,  where  the  enemy  had  made 
extensive  preparations  for  a  strong  resistance,  but  were 
driven  from  all  their  works  by  our  skirmishers.  This  Corps 
had  nine  killed  and  a  few  wounded,  nearly  all  of  whom  be 
longed  to  the  Twenty-Seventh  Ohio.  The  enemy  in  their 
rotreat  succeeded  in  burning  the  bridge.  There  were  cap 
tured  twenty-seven  pieces  of  artillery,  many  small  arms,  and 
several  tons  of  powder.  Much  had  been  shipped  from  Wil 
mington  and  Charleston,  to  this  place  for  safety. 

The  town  is  a  pleasant  but  ancient  one,  spread  over  suffi 
cient  territory  for  ten  times  the  population.  There  are 
many  evidences  of  wealth  in  this  place,  and  of  tormer 
greatness,  but  the  war  is  making  shipwreck  of  all  thesa 
once  flourishing  places. 

On  the  same  da}',  Captain  Roberts  with  his  foragers,  cap 
tured  Society  Hill,  sixteen  miles  from  Cheraw,  one  of  tho 
most  aristocratic  and  beautiful  places  in  the  State. 

On  the  5th  the  Corps,  taking  again  the  advance,  crossed 
the  Pedee,  and  moved  on  toward  Fayetteville,  North  Car 
olina,  wh  it'll  place  it  reached  March  llth.  The  foragers  of 
the  Seventeenth  Corps,  as  usual,  entered  the  town  several 
hours  in  advance,  and  had  some  considerable  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy.  Of  the  Third  Division  two  were  killed 
and  some  wounded.  Here  some  of  the  boys  of  the  Sev 
enty-Eighth  had  hand-to-hand  combats  with  the  enemy. 


$34  HISTORY   OF   THE 

Our  foragers  soon  being  reinforced  by  others  coming  up, 
held  the  town.  This  town  is  one  of  the  shabbiest  I  have 
seen  on  the  campaign.  Aside  from  the  United  State* 
Arsenal  established  years  ago  by  Congress  at  this  place, 
there  are  few  important  buildings  in  the  place.  The 
arsenal  was  destroyed,  and  all  its  line  buildings  torn  down 
by  order  of  General  Sherman.  We  have  never  before  seen 
as  many  poor  looking  women  in  one  place.  They  thronged 
the  street  in  crowds,  begging  something  to  eat  from  our 
soldiers;  they  had  every  appearance  of  want  and  starva 
tion.  From  this  place  three  steamboats,  captured  from  the 
rebels,  were  sent  loaded  with  refugees  and  contrabands,  to 
Wilmington.  The  army  remaining  here  but  one  day, 
moved  on  toward  Goldsboro,  where  the  campaign  will  ter 
minate. 

The  enemy  under  General  Johnston  began  to  make  heavy 
demonstrations  upon  the  left  wing  of  the  army  near  the 
Xeuse  river,  opposite  Smithfield.  The  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee  changed  its  direction  and  moved  up  the  Neuse  river, 
and  on  the  21st  met  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  which  were 
driven  bnck  to  their  works  and  our  lines  established  with 
the  left  wing.  Here  WTC  skirmished  with  the  enemy  suc 
cessfully,  the  Seventy-Eighth  having  two  wounded  severely. 
That  night  the  enemy  evacuated  his  works  and  retreated 
across  the  river.  They  had  charged  our  lines  frequently 
the  previous  evening,  but  in  every  instance  were  repulsed 
with  heavy  loss. 

The  army  then  moved  down  the  river  and  arrived  at 
Goldsboro  on  the  24th. 

Thus  one  of  the  most  stupendous  and  arduous,  and  dam 
aging  campaigns  of  the  war  ended.  The  Seventy-Eighth 
Regiment  traveled  in  all  five  hundred  and  three  miles.  The 
rains,  the  mud,  the  enemy  and  the  many  rivers  crossed  did 
not  impede  the  army's  march  a  day.  The  regiment  under 
the  efficient  energy  and  activity  of  Captain  C.  M.  Robert* 
had  abundance  of  provision.  The  regiment  sat  down  to  a 
sumptuous  supper  every  night.  Nearly  one  half  the  men 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.   V.   I.  335 

were  without  shoes  the  last  few  days  of  the  campaign,  and 
as  many  were  dressed  in  rebel  clothing.  Our  foragers  tak 
ing  advantage  of  this,  tried  the  pluck  of  some  of  General 
Terry's  men  who  had  marched  through  from  Wilmington. 
Two  boys  captured  a  picket  post  of  five,  and  again  captured 
two  orderlies  of  General  Terry's  headquarters  and  paroled 
them.  I  cannot  stay  to  give  your  readers  a  recital  of  the 
many  laughable  events  of  the  campaign,  and  especially  on 
the  part  of  the  foragers. 

The  total  casualties  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  from  the  time 
it  left  Pocotaligo  to  the  24th,  are  thirteen.  Company  A, 
Milton  Turner  and  Reese  Getwood,  wounded  ;  James  Gawd, 
missing.  Company  B,  John  T.  Moore,  killed  while  forag 
ing;  A.  J.  Mills,  taken  prisoner.  Company  C,  Levi  Gould, 
taken  prisoner.  Company  D,  George  O.  Watterberry,  died 
of  disease.  Company  II,  Jeremiah  McBride,  died  of  dis 
ease.  Company  K,  T.  II .  Thompson,  killed  by  lightning; 
Washington  Bruce,  Joshua  Dyer  and  Joel  Ward,  severely 
wounded. 

Colonel  J.  C.  Robinson  and  Major  Mills  have  led  the  reg 
iment  with  good  acceptance  and  general  satisfaction.  They 
have  prored  themselves  efficient  officers  and  commanders, 
Under  their  command  the  regiment  has  won  honors,  and 
waded  streams,  swamps  and  mud,  by  night  and  day,  some 
times  marching  the  whole  night  through  a  pouring  rain 
without  a  murmur. 

All  the  officers  have  done  nobly.  They  were  always  first 
to  plunge  into  the  water,  and  lead  in  all  places  of  discour 
agements  and  difficulties.  Yours  respectfully, 

T.  M.  S. 
Chaplain  Seventy-Eighth  Regiment  O.  V.  Y.  L 

At  Qoldsboro,  April  5th,  Lieutenant  Colonel  G.  I). 
Munaon  took  command  of  the  regiment,  and  Major  I.  O. 
Robinson,  who  had  commanded  the  regiment  with  so  much 
ability  and  acceptance,  from  Savannah  to  this  point,  wa« 
appointed  Inspector  on  General  Leggett's  staff.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Munson  soon  became  very  popular  with  both  mea 


336  HISTORY    OP   THE 

and  officers,  and  rose  to  the  reputation  which  his  military 
experience  and  knowledge  well  merited. 

General  Scott,  April-  5th,  returned  from  the  North  and 
took  command  of  the  Second  Brigade.  General  Wiles  and 
Adjutant  Search  went  home  on  leave  of  absence.  Lieuten 
ants  Story  and  McDonald  resigned  and  also  left  the  regi 
ment  ;  both  had  long  served  upon  General  Scott's  staff. 
The  former  had  served  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  as  a 
Lieutenant,  and  declined  his  promotion  to  Captain.  The 
latter  was  compelled,  through  ill  health,  to  quit  the  service. 

As  an  expression  of  the  warm  attachment  between  Gen 
eral  Wiles  and  the  Chaplain,  we  insert  the  following  note 
sent  the  latter  on  the  morning  he  left: 

"HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  THIRD  DIVISION,  ) 
SEVENTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS,  April  5, 1865.      J 

DEAR  CHAPLAIN  : 

I  met  the  officers  of  the  regiment  last  evening,  and  I 
remember  you  were  not  present.  I  wish  to  say  good-by  to 
you,  and  to  express  to  you  my  gratitude  for  your  friendship 
and  excellent  support. 

May  God  bless  you,  and  have  you  in  his  keeping,  and 
give  you  health  to  perform  your  duties  as  Chaplain,  and 
may  he  make  your  labors  acceptable  and  fruitful,  is  the 
earnest  prayer  of  your  friend. 

G.  F.  WILES,  Colonel". 

On  the  10th  of  April  the  regiment  bid  farewell  to  Gold?- 
boro,  and  set  out  in  pursuit  of  Johnston  and  his  fleeing 
arniy4  We  arrived  at  Raleigh  on  the  13th,  meeting  no 
opposition.  Johnston  had  gone  farther  west.  Here  we 
heard  the  sad  news  of  the  assassination  of  President  Lin 
coln.  The  news  of  General  Lee's  surrender  a  few  days  pre 
vious  had  made  the  army  wild  with  joy.  We  were  then 
rejoicing  over  the  news  of  Johnston's  surrender  to  General 
Sherman,  which  was  a  source  of  additional  joy.  Closely 
follows  this  the  sad.  news  of  the  murder  of  the  President, 
which  caused  a  deep  feeling  of  pain  and  sorrow.  So  intense 
was  this  feeling  that  scarcely  a  word  was  spoken.  The 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  3-°>7 

camps  were  hilslied  to  the  utmost  stillness,  each  fearing  to 
speak  or  impart  the  news  to  his  fellow.  In  a  short  time 
the  silent  murmur  of  revenge  was  whispered  from  right  to 
left  of  the  whole  army,  and  soon  reached  the  cars  of  com 
manding  officers.  Quietly  a  strong  line  of  guards  was 
thrown  around  every  encampment,  which  was  all  that  saved 
the  city  of  Raleigh  from  annihilation  or  a  sudden  transition 
to  ashes. 

After  maneuvering  about  Raleigh  in  proximity  to 
Johnston's  army  during  the  conditions  of  surrender,  tlu- 
regiment  left  for  Richmond,  Virginia,  April  *J9th,  but  how 
different  the  march  from  any  during  the  last  four  years.  It 
is  no  longer  through  a  hostile  country  ;  no  cavalry  are  need 
ed  to  clear  the  way  :  no  scouts  are  needed  to  spy  out  the 
position  of  the  enemy  and  to  watch  the  secret  movements 
of  guerrillas;  no  plundering  the  inhabitants,  and  making  a 
desolation  of  the  country  through  which  we  pass;  all  is 
good  feeling,  that  the  war  has  ended,  and  ended  in  triumph 
to  our  arms;  the  country  is  saved;  liberty  and  humanity 
vindicated,  and  the  right  victorious. 

The  whole  army  of  General  Sherman  marched  across  the 
Xeuse  river  and  encamped  until  Monday  morning,  when, 
all  broke  camp  and  started  on  a  race  for  Richmond.  The 
contest  between  the  different  Corps  daily  grew  exciting  and 
more  determined,  and  the  men  entered  into  it  with  resolu 
tion  and  energy. 

The  second  day's  march  the  Tar  river  was  crossed,  and 
the  army  encamped  upon  its  banks.  Here  the  Sevcntv- 
Eighth  regiment  had  a  most  estimable  and  worthy  mini 
drowned,  private  Levi  Harnley,  of  Company  K,  while  bath 
ing  in  the  river.  This  providence  cast  a  heavy  gloom  owr 
the  regiment.  His  companions  labored  nearly  all  the  night 
and  the  next  morning  to  recover  his  remains,  but  without 
success. 

So  close  was  the  contest  between  the  Fifteenth  and  Sev 
enteenth  Corps,  that  General  Blair  and  General  Logan,  with 

9-7 


338  HISTORY   OF   THE 

their  staffs  and  pioneers  arrived  at  the  Roanoke  river  within 
one  or  two  minutes  of  each  other.  Both  Corps  were  com 
pelled  by  the  breadth  of  the  stream  to  combine  their  pon 
toons  and  cross  at  the  same  point.  General  Logan  had 
sent  forward  his  pioneers  to  occupy  the  landing,  and  thus 
claimed  the  right  to  cross  first.  The  Seventeenth  Corps 
had  to  remain  there  until  the  next  day,  waiting  the  coming 
up  and  crossing  of  the  Fifteenth  Corps.  The  Seventeenth 
Corps  were  all  up  and  in  camp  before  the  Fifteenth  had 
reached  the  river.  This  Corps  crossing  first  gave  them  a 
day  in  advance,  which  was' considerable  of  an  advantage. 

We  arrived  at  Manchester,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
James,  opposite  Richmond,  on  the  9th  of  May,  making 
about  twenty-five  miles  per  day.  The  country  south  of 
Petersburg  and  toward  Richmond  is  the  garden  of  the 
South.  The  peculiar  Southern  appearance  of  both  country 
and  people  disappear;  all  look  more  ISTorthern-like  and 
more  familiar. 

On  the  12th  the  army  left  camp  near  Richmond  and 
started  for  Washington  City.  The  march  was  a  pleasant 
one,  and  the  country  beautiful ;  and  those  stiff  and  soro 
from  the  forced  march  to  Richmond  rapidly  regained  their 
elasticity.  All  the  way  was  made  interesting  by  the  marks 
of  war,  fields  of  battle,  and  encampments  of  the  Eastern 
army.  We  had  heard  much  about  the  desolations  of  Vir 
ginia,  but  were  surprised  to  see  them  so  trifling  compared 
with  Atlanta,  and  the  country  through  which  the  Western 
army  had  passed  its  heavy  campaigns.  The  works  about 
Richmond  were  much  inferior  in  every  respect  to  those 
about  Atlanta,  and  the  desolations  from  Petersburg  to 
Washington  will  bear  no  comparison  with  the  desolations 
from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta. 

On  the  20th  we  arrived  at  Alexandria,  where  General 
Wiles  and  other  officers  absent  on  leave  rejoined  the  regi 
ment.  On  the  23d  we  camped  near  the  Long  Bridge  across 
the  Potomac.  From  our  camp  the  capital  and  the  sur- 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT   O.V.   V.   I. 


339 


rounding  country  presented  an  indescribably  grand  appear 
ance. 

On  the  24th  we  marched  into  the  city  and  passed  in 
review  before  all  the  great  ones  of  the  nation.  The  multi 
tude  of  people  surpassed  anything  we  had  ever  before  seen. 
The  review  was  quite  a  contest  between  the  Eastern  and 
Western  armies.  The  former  surpassed  the  latter  in  appear 
ance,  but  the  latter  (General  Sherman's  army)  surpassed  the 
Eastern  in  marching,  in  soldierly  bearing,  and  military  dis 
cipline.  Their  free,  easy  motion,  without  a  break  or  dis 
parity  in  any  particular,  was  in  wonderful  contrast  with  the 
Eastern  army.  It  was  conceded  by  all  to  be  far  superior  in 
everything  pertaining  to  a  soldier.  Here  we  remained 
encamped  north  of  the  city  until  June  6th,  at  which  time 
a  part  of  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  the  veterans  and 
a  few  others  remaining. 

The  Third  Division,  commanded  by  General  Leggett,  had 
obtained  so  high  a  reputation,  as  being  the  best  of  General 
Sherman's  army,  doing  the  best  marching  and  making  the 
best  appearance  as  soldiers,  that  many  visited  its  encamp 
ment.  The  Second  Brigade  excelled  the  First  in  every 
quality,  and  of  its  regiments  the  Seventy-Eighth  was  in 
nothing  second  best.  The  Christian  Commission  will  bear 
testimony  that  in  all  their  visits  to  regiments  none  more 
cordially  received  them  or  made  them  feel  more  at  home 
than  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio. 

June  6th  we  received  orders  to  report  at  Louisville,  Ken 
tucky.  The  trip  was  made  by  railroad  to  Parkersburg, 
thence  by  boat.  The  first  part  of  the  journey  was  made 
interesting  by  the  magnificent  scenery  of  the  mountains 
over  which  we  passed,  and  those  rising  in  solemn  majesty 
in  the  distance  ;  far  to  our  left  pile  upon  pile  of  mountains 
rose  in  the  distant  horizon.  The  whole  journey  was  made 
still  more  interesting  by  the  greetings  of  the  people,  especi 
ally  the  ladies  who  thronged  every  depot,  and  scores  of 
old  women,  little  boys  and  girls,  loaded  with  baskets  of 
pies  and  cakes. 


340  HISTORY   OF  THE 

As  we  passed  down  the  Ohio  river  a  most  noticeable  fea 
ture  was  the  difference  of  the  two  shores.  Those  upon  the 
Ohio  side  seemed  all  life  and  energy.  The  ladies  tossed  and 
waved  their  handkerchiefs  with  a  life  and  energy  that 
indicated  earnestness,  welcome  and  joy.  Those  upon  the 
Kentucky  side  seemed  to  be  generally  away  from  home. 
Some  would  stand  in  their  doors  in  sullen  indifference. 
They  probably  felt  that  they  had  lost  their  dear  rights,  and 
were  not  likely  soon  to  recover  them.  They  looked  as  the 
Southern  Confederacy  felt  —  "  caved  in." 

"We  arrived  at  Louisville  the  morning  of  the  llth,  and 
marched  about  four  miles  south-west  and  encamped.  The 
next  day  changed  camp,  but  the  position  being  a  swamp 
we  again  moved  to  the  south-east  of  the  city,  where  we 
found  a  beautiful,  healthy  locality.  We  all  tried  to  think 
we  were  in  a  loyal  State,  for  Kentucky  was  blowing  her 
horn  as  loud  as  the  most  loyal  State  in  the  North.  Aristo- 
crat  &n& plebian,  "Stay  at  home"  and  returned  rebel  soldier, 
as  full  yet  of  rebellion  as  "  hell  of  brimstone/'  all  going  in 
on  the  spread  eagle  style  for  the  "Constitution  and  the 
laws,"  claiming  for  themselves  as  much  of  the  new  glory 
that  crowns  the  Fourth  as  if  they  had  battled  for  the  Gov 
ernment  instead  of  against  it — for  the  Constitution  and 
the  laws  instead  of  against  them.  They  fought  hard,  no 
matter  on  which  side,  for  or  against,  the  glory  is  all  tho 
same :  they  were  neutral. 

Yes,  ye  gods!  look  down  and  be  amazed  at  the  patriot 
ism  of  us  Kentuckians  !  Old  Smith  comes  down  from  the 
rafters,  after  his  wife  has  repeatedly  assured  him  that  the 
bear  is  dead.  See  him  now,  as  he  spreads  himself  among 
his  neighbors,  and  tells  them  how  "me  and  Sally  killed  the 
bear!"  "Who  would  not  honor  the  self-sacrificing  old  hero 
for  taking  such  high  ground,  such  a  safe  position  during 
the  petty  conflict  of  "  our  erring  brethren  ?;J  True,  he 
would  much  rather  the  bear  had  killed  Sally,  but  now  that 
the  beast  is  dead  ar.d  his  own  precious  carcass  is  safe,  (rcqui- 
we  should  all  rejoice  in  cur  cciumon  victory  !"' 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.   V.    V.   I.  341 

This  State  has  suffered  but  little.  If  she  had  been  run 
over  like  South  Carolina  she  would  have  been  infinitely 
more  loyal  than  she  is.  She  is  much  like  a  perverse  family 
out  West  that  could  never  be  induced  to  attend  church. 
They  were  rich,  and  prosperous  in  worldly  things.  The  old 
preacher  had  been  very  kind  to  them,  but  they  only  grew 
more  wicked  and  more  insulting  to  both  God  and  man.  One 
day  a  rattlesnake  bit  one  of  the  boys  and  he  thought  he 
must  die.  At  once  they  sent  for  the  preacher.  He  came. 
They  wanted  him  to  pray  for  the  dying  boy,  and  he  began : 
",We  thank  thee,  0  Lord,  for  rattlesnakes.  We  thank  thee, 
that  in  thy  adorable  providence  thou  hast  sent  one  to  bite 
John  !  And  we  do  beseech  thee  to  send  one  of  them  to  bite 
the  old  man  and  the  rest  of  the  family,  for  nothing  but  rat 
tlesnakes  will  bring  them  to  repentance!" 

Such  a  prayer  would  be  very  appropriate  for  Kentucky. 
She  needs  rattlesnakes — she  needs  to  suffer  that  she  may 
know  the  value  of  a  good  government. 

When  at  Louisville  much  discontent  and  open  complaint 
prevailed  among  the  troops,  that  they  were  longer  held 
in  the  service  after  the  war  had  ended.  In  some  regiments 
the  conduct  became  almost  mutinous.  The  Seventy-Eighth 
became  tainted  with  the  I" same  contagious  spirit,  but  in  a 
mild  form,  compared  with  others. 

General  Leggett  issued  an  address  to  his  command,  that 
caused  the  fever  to  abate.  We  give  the  address  below: 

"  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVENTEENTH  A.  C., ) 
JV"EAR  LOUISVILLE,  KY.,  June  17, 1865.      / 

SOLDIERS  OF  THE  THIRD  DIVISION: 

During  the  last  four  years  you  have  displayed  your  valor 
and  patriotism  on  scores  of  battle-fields.  Scores  of  times 
have  you  met  the  enemies  of  our  Government  in  deadly 
conflict,  and  always  proved  victorious.  You  never  suffered 
your  lines  to  be  broken.  You  never  attacked  a  position 
held  by  the  enemy  which  you  failed  to  take.  You  were 
never  driven  from  a  position  which  you  attempted  to  hold. 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE 

"When  the  history  of  the  bloody  battles  and  arduous 
campaigns  in  which  you  have  been  engaged  shall  be  truth 
fully  written,  it  will  be  said  of  the  Old  Third  Division ; 
<It  never  knew  defeat.  It  was  never  late  in  battle,  and 
never  early  out.  It  never  turned  its  back  to  the  enemy. 
It  always  responded  to  the  order  -'FORWARD'  with  a  cheer, 
and  moved  without  regard  to  the  obstacles  or  force  in  its 
front,  and  stopped  only  when  its  own  commanders  sounded 
the  'HALT.' 

Of  your  name  and  record  you  justly  feel  proud.  Sol 
diers  guard  well  that  name !  Do  not  suiier  any  feeling  of 
disappointment  or  discontent  to  lead  you  to  tarnish  that 
proud  record,  which,  up  to  this  day,  is  without  a  blot. 

When  we  left  North  Carolina,  our  visions  of  home  with 
its  comforts  and  endearments  were  strong,  and  we  all 
hoped,  ere  this,  to  have  been  there.  But  the  Government 
determined  that  it  would  be  imprudent  to  so  soon  disband 
us.  Every  inch  of  territory  lately  in  rebellion  is  still  under 
martial  law,  and  while  martial  law  prevails  the  war  is  not 
at  an  end,  though  active  warfare  may  have  ceased.  Until 
reorganization  takes  place,  and  civil  tribunals  are  ready  to 
assume  the  control  now  exercised  by  the  military  authority, 
soldiers  will  be  needed,  and  we  may  justly  and  legally  be 
held  in  the  service,  and  have  no  just  right  to  complain. 

It  is  the  expressed  desiie  of  the  Government  to  reduce 
its  expenses  as  much  and  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  we 
may  rely  upon  being  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  the 
earliest  moment  deemed  prudent  by  the  authorities  at 
Washington. 

In  the  meantime  a  liberal  percentage  of  the  men  will  be 
permitted  to  visit  their  homes  on  furlough,  and  the  usual 
discipline  must  be  maintained  in  camp. 

As  to  our  further  movements,  or  when  we  may  expect  to 
be  mustered  out  of  the  service,  you  know  all  that  your 
commander  knows,  and  you  ought  to  expect  no  more.  But 
while  held  in  the  service,  let  us  do  our  duties  like  men  and 
soldiers,  that  when  discharged  we  may  bear  to  our  homes 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.  V.    V.    I.  343 

and  to  our  friends,  names  of  which  they  always  may  feel 
proud.  M.  I).  LEGGETT, 

Brevet  Major-General  Commanding." 

In  July  the  Third  Division  was  ordered  to  be  mustered 
out.  The  rolls  were  soon  completed,  and  the  Seventy-Eighth 
started  for  Columbus  among  the  first,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  evening  of  the  14th,  when  it  was  paid  oft' and  disbanded. 
Each  soldier,  now  a  citizen,  started  for  his  home,  feeling 
grateful  to  a  kind  and  merciful  Providence  for  protecting 
him  through  four  years  of  bloody  war,  and  permitting  him 
to  return  home  to  his  family  and  friends. 

The  parting  of  the  Sixt3^-Eighth,  Twentieth  and  Seventy- 
Eighth  Ohio,  was  like  the  breaking  up  of  a  family.  From 
the  beginning  of  the  war  they  had  served  together,  and  had 
been  successful  in  every  engagement,  and  never  once  gave 
way  or  retreated  before  the  enemy.  All  vcre  conscious  of 
the  fact  that  no  other  Brigade  iu  the  army  had  a  prouder 
or  more  honorable  record. 

The  following  letter  from  General  Leggctt  to  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  on  the  expiration 
of  their  original  term  of  service,  I  take  the  liberty  to  insert: 

"  HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION,  SEVENTEENTH  A.  C., ) 
XEAR  BEAUFORT,  S.  C.,  January  10,  18G5.          / 

To  the  0 (fleers  and  Men  of  the  Seccnty-Eigldh  0.  V.  V.  Infantry: 
FELLOW  SOLDIERS  : — To-day  ends   the    original   term   of 
"  three  years7'  for  which  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry  entered  the  service  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  beginning  of  this  term,  few  thought  our  services 
would  be  so  long  required.  Then  we  enlisted  for  "three 
years"  or  "during  the  war;"  we  believed  that  "during 
the  war"  would  be  a  shorter  term  than  "three  years." 
"We  failed  then  to  correctly  estimate  the  number  and  wick 
edness  of  those  banded  together  to  destroy  our  general  gov 
ernment;  and  disgrace  our  national  flag.  Neither  did  we 
know  then  the  strength  of  our  affection  for  that  flag,  nor 
the  depth  of  our  love  for  that  government.  Three  years  of 
the  most  arduous  and  exposed  service,  has  increased  our 


344  UISTORT:  UF  THE 

devotion  to  our  country,  and  greatly  decpc-ned  our  hatred 
of  its  foe. 

The  history  of  the  regiment  has  been  one  of  which  we 
are  all  proud.  Thank  God  and  the  bnive  men  of  the  Sev 
enty-Eighth,  there  is  not  a  page  or  a  paragraph  of  that 
history  that  need  ever  cause  the  blush  of  shame  to  tinge 
our  cheeks,  or  those  of  our  children  after  us. 

During  the  "three  years"  the  regiment  lias  never  been 
the  subject  of  censure,  but  has  often  been  commended  and 
praised  in  orders  and  reports,  for  its  gallantry  in  battle,  its 
thorough  discipline,  its  soldierly  conduct  in  camp  and  on  the 
march,  and  for  its  proficiency  in  drill. 

The  Seventy-Eighth  lias  never  gone  into  summer  or 
winter  quarters.  Its  entire  term  lias  been  one  of  extreme 
exposure  and  arduous  service.  Its  history  may  truly  be 
said  to  have  been  written  in  sweat  and  blood.  At  Poue!- 
sio n,  Burnt  Bridge,  Shiloli,  Siege  of  Corinth,  Bolivar,  Iukn? 
Thompson's  Hill,  llayinond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hill?, 
Siege  of  Vieksburg,  Bogueehitta,  Baker's  Creek,  Ciintor, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta,  Jonesboro,  Lovejoy,  Siege  of 
Savannah,  and  in  almost  numberless  affairs  and  skirmishes 
of  less  importance,  the  regiment  has  left  its  mark  in  blood, 
and  by  its  determined  bravery  shown  its  invincible  char 
acter. 

In  the  campaigns  to  luka,  to  Water  Valley,  in  the  rc?.r 
of  Vicksburg,  and  the  expedition  of  the  Yazoo  valley, 
Bogueehitta  Creek,  through  Louisiana,  the  great  Meridian 
raid,  the  march  through  Northern  Alabama,  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  the  pursuit  of  Hood  in  the  rear  of  Atlanta,  and 
the  great  expedition  through  Georgia  to  Savannah,  it  has 
displayed  its  high  state  of  discipline,  its  marching  qualities, 
and  the  patriotic  willingness  of  its  officers  and  men  to 
undergo  the  greatest  deprivations,  and  to  subject  themselves 
to  the  most  extreme  fatigue  and  exposure,  when  the  exi 
gencies  of  the  service  demanded. 

Since  entering  the  service  the  regiment  has  marched 
three  thousand  two  hundred  and  eighty-nine  miles ;  been 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT    0.    V.    V.    I.  345 

transported  on  steamboats  two  thousand  two  hundred  and 

fourteen  miles;  and  on  railroad  one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  ninety-nine  miles,  making  the  whole  distance  traveled 
during  the  three  years,  seven  thousand  two  hundred  and 
two  miles. 

Two  hundred  and  ninety-four  of  your  number  have  given 
their  lives  a  willing  sacrifice  upon  their  country's  altar.  Of 
this  number  eighty-one  were  killed  in  action.  Unshrouded 
and  uricoilined  their  hallowed  remains  are  sanctifying  the 
rebellious  hills  and  valleys  of  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Ten 
nessee,  Kentucky,  Alabama  and  Georgia.  The  recollections 
of  these  brave  men  who  have  so  nobly  fallen  will  ever  be 
fresh  in  the  memory  of  their  comrades.  Let  us  emulate 
their  noble  deeds.  Patriotic  braves  can  ask  no- better  time 
to  die  than  while  raising  their  arm  in  defense  of  the  best 
Government  that  God  ever  gave  to  man.  Two  hundred 
and  seven  have  been  wounded  in  action,  many  of  whom 
mast  be  cripples  for  life.  They  must  have 'our  warmest 
sympathy,  and,  when  needed,  our  active  aid. 

Five  hundred  and  eighty-nine  have  lost  their  health  in 
the  service,  and  have  been  discharged  before  the  expiration 
of  their  term.  Twenty-seven  are  reported  as  mia-ung  in 
action.  Thirty-one  have  been  transferred  to  the  Invalid 
Corps,  and  seventeen  are  reported  deserters,  making  the 
total  loss  of  the  regiment  eight  hundred  ? nd  eighty-fire 

^  O  o          */ 

mi3ii.  AVe  entered  the  service  with  nine  hundred  and  forty 
men. 

During  your  three  years'  term  your  regiment  has,  except 
ing  a  short  time,  constituted  the  whole  or  a  part  of  my 
command.  The  ready  obedience  it  has  always  yielded  to 
my  orders,  and  the  friendly,  generous  and  cheerful  spirit  its 
officers  and  men  have  given  me  in  the  discharge  of  my 
official  duties,  have  \von  rny  lasting  and  warmest  gratitude. 

In  the  honor  and  welfare  of  the  regiment  I  have  always 
felt,  and  shall  always  feel,  the  deepest  solicitude.  When 
ever  the  regiment  has  honored  itself,  I  have  felt  honored  ; 
and  had  it  ever  disgraced  itself,  I  should  have  felt  myself 


S46  HISTORY   OF   THE 

disgraced.  Let  its  future  be  what  its  past  has  been,  and  it 
will  always  be  the  pride  of  my  life,  that  I  was  the  first 
Colonel  of  the  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio. 

Those  whose  health  and  circumstances  at  home  precluded 

them  from  becoming  veterans,  close  their  term  of  service 
with  us  to-day.  In  bidding  farewell  to  those  of  your  com 
mand  who  now  leave  you,  give  them  the  assurance  that  the 
reputation  of  the  "  Old  Seventy-Eighth,"  so  dearly  won, 
shall  be  fully  sustained  in  its  veteran  organization  —  that 
the  remaining  pages  of  its  history  shall  be  equally  glorious 
with  those  already  written. 

Your  friend  and  former  Colonel, 
[Signed,]  M.  I).  LEGGETT, 

Brigadier-Genera] ." 
GENERAL  LOGAN'S  FAREWELL  TO  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE. 

HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  TENNESSEE,  ) 
LOUISVILLE,  KY.,  July  13,  18G5.      / 

Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee: 

The  profound  gratification  I  feel  in  being  authorized  to 
release  you  from  the  onerous  obligations  of  the  camp,  and 
return  you,  laden  with  laurels,  to  homes  where  warm  hearts 
wait  to  welcome  you,  is  somewhat  embittered  by  the  painful 
reflection  that  I  am  sundering  the  ties  that  trials  have  made 
true,  time  made  tender,  suffering  made  sacred,  perils  made 
proud,  heroism  made  honorable,  and  fame  made  forever 
i  carl  ess  of  the  future.  It  is  no  common  occasion  that 
demands  the  disbandment  of  a  military  organization,  before 
the  resistless  power  of  which  mountains  bristling  with 
bayonets  have  bowed,  cities  have  surrendered,  and  millions 
of  brave  men  been  conquered.  Although  I  have  been  but 
for  a  short  period  your  commander,  we  are  net  strangers  ; 
affections  have  sprung  up  between  us  during  the  long  years 
of  doubt,  gloom  and  carnage,  which  we  have  passed  through 
together,  nurtured  by  common  perils,  sufferings  nnd  sacri 
fices,  and  riveted  by  the  memories  of  gallant  comrades, 
whose  bones  repose  beneath  the  sod  of  an  hundred  battle 
fields,  nor  time  nor  distance  will  weaken  or  efface.  The 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  347 

many  marches  you  have  made,  the  dangers  you  have  des 
pised,  the  haughtiness  you  have  humbled,  the  duties  you 
liave  discharged,  the  glory  you  have  gained,  the  destiny 
you  have  discovered  for  the  country  in  whose  cause  you 
have  conquered,  all  recur  at  this  moment  in  all  the  vivid 
ness  that  marked  the  scenes  through  which  we  have  just 
passed.  From  the  pens  of  the  ablest  historians  of  the  land, 
.daily  are  drifting  out  upon  the  current  of  time,  page  upon 
page,  volume  upon  volume  of  your  heroic  deeds,  and  float 
ing  down  to  future  generations  will  inspire  the  student  of 
history  with  admiration,  the  patriot  American  with  venera 
tion  for  his  ancestors,  and  the  lover  of  republican  liberty 
with  gratitude  for  those  who,  in  a  fresh  baptism  of  blood, 
reconsecrated  the  powers  and  energies  of  the  Republic  to 
the  cause  of  constitutional  freedom.  Long  may  'it  be  the 
happy  fortune  of  each  and  every  one  of  you  to  live  in  the 
fall  fruition  of  the  boundless  blessings  you  have  secured  to 
the  human  race,  Only  he  whose  heart  has  been  thrilled 
with  admiration  for  your  impetuous  and  unyielding  valor 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  can  appreciate  witli  what  pride 
I  recount  the  brilliant  achievements  -  which  immortalize 
you,  and  enrich  the  pages  of  our  national  history.  Passing 
by  the  earlier,  but  not  less  signal  triumphs  of  the  war,  in 
which  most  of  you  participated,  and  inscribed  upon  your 
banners  such  victories  as  Donelson  and  Shiloh,  I  recur  to 
campaigns,  sieges  and  victories  that  challenge  the  admira 
tion  of  the  world,  and  elicit  the  unwilling  applause  of  all 
Europe.  Turning  your  backs  upon  the  blood-bathed  bights  • 
of  Vicksburg,  you  launched  into  a  region  swarming  with 
enemies,  lighting  your  way,  and  marching  without  adequate 
supplies,  to  answer  the  cry  for  succor  that  came  to  you 
from  the  noble  but  beleagured  army  at  Chattanooga.  Your 
steel  next  flashed  among  the  mountains  of  the  Tennessee, 
and  your  weary  limbs  found  rest  before  the  embattled 
hights  of  Mission  Ridge,  and  there,  with  dauntless  cour 
age,  you  breasted  again  the  enemy's  destructive  fire,  and 
shared  with  your  comrades  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 


S4S  HISTORY   OF   THE 

land  the  glories  of  a  victory,  than  which  no  soldiery  can 
boast  a  prouder. 

In  that  unexampled  campaign  of  vigilant  and  vigorous 
warfare  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta,  you  freshened  your 
laurels  at  Eesaca,  grappling  with  the  enemy  behind  his 
works,  hurling  him  back  dismayed  and  broken.  Pursuing 
him  from  thence,  marking  your  path  by  graves  of  fallen 
comrades,  you  again  triumphed  over  superior  numbers  at 
Dallas,  lighting  your  way  from  there  to  Kenesaw  Moun 
tain,  and  under  the  murderous  artillery  that  frowned  from 
its  rugged  bights,  with  a  tenacity  and  constancy  that  finds 
few  parallels,  you  labored,  fought  and  suffered  through  the 
broiling  rays  of  a  Southern  midsummer  sun,  until  at  last 
you  planted  your  colors  upon  its  topmost  Lights.  Again 
on  the  22d  of  July,  1864,  rendered  memorable  through  all 
time  for  the  terrible  struggle  you  so  heroically  maintained 
under  discouraging  disasters,  and  that  saddest  of  all  reflec 
tions,  the  loss  of  that  exemplary  soldier  and  popular  leader, 
the  lamented  ^McPherson,  your  matchless  courage  turned 
defeat  into  a  glorious  victory.  Ezra  Chapel  and  Jonesboro 
added  new  luster  to  a  radiant  record,  the  latter  unbarring 
to  you  the  proud  Gate  City  of  the  South.  The  daring  of  a 
desperate  foe,  in  thrusting  his  legions  northward,  exposed 
the  country  in  your  front,  and  though  livers,  swamps  and 
enemies  opposed,  you  boldly  surmounted  every  obstacle, 
beat  down  all  opposition,  and  marched  onward  to  the  sea. 
'Without  any  act  to  dim  the  brightness  of  your  historic 
page,  the  world  rang  plaudits  when  your  labors  and  strug 
gles  culminated  at  Savannah,  and  the  old  "  Starry  Banner" 
waved  once  more  over  the  walls  of  one  of  the  proudest 
cities  of  the  seabord.  Scarce  a  breathing  spell  had  passed 
when  your  colors  faded  from  the  coast,  and  your  columns 
plunged  into  the  swamps  of  the  Carolinas.  The  sufferings 
you  endured,  the  labors  you  performed,  and  the  successes 
you  achieved  in  those  morasses,  deemed  impassable,  form  a 
creditable  episode  in  the  history  of  the  war.  Pocotaligo, 
Salkahatchie,  Edisto,  Branchville,  Orangeburg,  Columbia, 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH    REGIMENT   0.    V.    V.    I.  849 

Bentonville,  Charleston  and  Raleigh  are  names  that  will 
ever  be  suggestive  of  the  resistless  sweep  of  your  column 
through  the  territory  that  cradled  and  nurtured,  and  from 
whence  was  sent  forth  on  its  mission  of  crime,  misery  and 
blood,  the  disturbing  and  disorganizing  spirit  of  secession 
and  rebellion. 

The  work  for  which  you  pledged  your  brave  hearts  and 
brawny  arms  to  the  Government  of  your  fathers,  you  have 
nobly  performed.  You  arc  seen  in  the  past  gathering 
through  the  gloom  that  enveloped  the  land,  rallying  as  the 
guardian  of  man's  proudest  heritage,  forgetting  the  thread 
unwoven  in  the  loom,  quitting  the  anvil  and  abandoning 
the  workshops,  to  vindicate  the  supremacy  of  the  laws  and 
the  authority  of  the  Constitution.  Four  years  have  you 
struggled  in  the  bloodiest  and  most  destructive  war  that 
ever  drenched  the  earth  with  human  gore;  step  by  step  you 
have  borne  our  standard,  until  to  day,  over  every  fortress 
and  arsenal  that  rebellion  wrenched  from  us,  and  over  citv, 
town  and  hamlet,  from  the  lakes  to  the  Gulf,  and  from 
ocean  to  ocean,  proudly  floats  the  "  starry  emblem  "  of  our 
national  unity  and  strength. 

Your  rewards,  my  comrades,  are  the  welcoming  plaudits 
of  a  grateful  people,  the  consciousness  that  in  saving  the 
republic,  you  have  won  for  your  country  renewed  respect 
and  power  at  home  and  abroad,  that  in  the  unexampled  era 
of  growth  and  prosperity  that  dawns  with  peace,  there 
attached  mightier  wealth '  of  pride  and  glory  than  ever 
before  to  that  loved  boast,  "I  am  an  American  citizen." 

In  relinquishing  the  implements  of  war  for  those  of 
peace,  let  your  conduct  ever  be  that  of  warriors  in  time  of 
war,  and  peaceful  citizens  in  time  of  peace.  Let  not  tho 
luster  of  that  bright  name  that  you  have  wron  as  soldiers,  be 
dimmed  by  any  improper  act  as  citizens,  but  as  time  rolls 
on  let  your  record  grow  brighter  and  brighter  still. 

Jon:-  A.  LOG  AX,  Major-General. 


INDEX. 


PADS. 

Organ-'zation   of  the  Regiment,          -  9 

Second    Brigade,          -  13 

Twentieth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteers,  14 
Mnth  Illinois  Mounted  Infantry,  -  15 
Sixty-Eighth  Ohio  Veteran  Volunteers,  18 
Seventeenth  Wisconsin  Vet.  Volunteers,  20 
COMPANY  AND  NOX-COMMISSIONED  OFFI- 

CKRS   AND   EttLISTJJD    MK.Y. 

Company     A,        -        -        -        -        -        22 


E, 
F, 

Or, 

H, 


42 
49 
56 
63 
70 
76 

I, 83 

K,  -----  90 
Commissioned  &  Non-commissioned  Staff,  95 
War  Shadows,  -  -  -  -  111 

-  11C 

-  119 

-  120 

-  121 

-  123 

-  123 
.   128 

-  134 

-  137 

-  140 


Sergt.  Jasper  S.  Langhlin,  - 

Casualties  of  the  War,        -        - 

Rebel  Loss, 

Planning  Campaigns,    - 

The  Mississipi,      -        -        -        - 

The  Regiments  leaving  Ohio,      - 

Battle  of  Fort  Dom-lson,     -        - 

Lieutenant-General   Grant,          - 

Major-General  Sherman,      .. 

The  Regiment  at   Dover,    -        - 

Metal   Landing, 141 

Adarasville,  -----       142 

Battle  of  Shiloh,  143 

Second  day'n  Fighting — Letter  from 

Sergeant  Jasper  S.  Laughlin,  -  -  140 
Siege  of  Corinth,  ....  1^0 
Description  of  the  Town,  ...  ]:V2 
Rebel  Vandalism,  -  ...  1*5 
Anecdote  of  the  Fight  of  23th.  -  -  153 
Powerful  and  Thrilling  Sermon,  -  156 
Prayer  by  a  Texan  Ranger,  -  -  -  157 
Bethel  and  Jackson,  Tennessee,  -  :  161 
Grand  Junction  and  Lagrange,  -  1G4 
Drs.  Waddel  and  Grey,  -  -  10  G 

Bolivar,  Tennessee,  -  ...  leg 
Battles  ne.'ir  Bolivar,  .  -  .  -  171 
General  Leggett'*  Official  Report,  -  172 
Robert  Hanson's  Adventure,  -  -  178 
March  to  Corinth  and  I uka,  Mies.,  .  179 
General  Logan,  .....  184 


PAOR. 

Movement  toward  Central  Mississippi,        184 

Correspondent  "  Typo," 

Water   Valley,       - 

Oxford  and  Mississippi  University, 

Anecdote   of  Holly  Springs, 

Davis'  Mills.  ----- 

Camp  near  Memphis,  ... 

The  Battle  of  Memphis,        -        .        -      214 

Trip   down  the  Mississippi,   -         .         .      223 

Lake  Providence,          -  225 

-  228 

-  232 

-  233 


]<JO 

10; 

2</0 
203 
204 
206 


Vista  Plantation,          -        ... 
Running  the   Blockade,        ... 
March  to  Bruinsburg,  - 
Grand  Gulf,  Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jack 
son  and  Champion  Hills,    ...  2.M 
Battle  at  Black  River,        .        -         -235 
Rear  of  Vicksburg,      ....  23S 
The  Killed  and  Wounded  at  Champion 

Hills,          - 249 

Description  of  tie  Siege,     ...  251 

Surrender  of  the  Rebel  Army  and  City,  263 

Total  Loss  of  the  Federal  Army,        -  251 

Clinton,  Mississippi,       -         ...  25i 

Camp  at  Bovina,  2C1 
Compliments  of  Company  E  to  Colonel 

G.F.  Wihv, 2r,l 

Flag  presentation  from  the  Ladies  of 

Zanesville,          .....  264 

Monroeville,  Louisiana,        ...  2s4 

Expedition  to  Canton  and  Jackson,  Mies.  264 
General  Leg^ett  appointed  to  the  com 
mand   of  tbe  Third  Division, 
The   contest  for  the  Flag,  - 
Names  of  those  v>'ho  died  at  Vick.sburg 
Meridian  Expedition — Letter  by  Major 

James  S.  Reeves,      -        ...  267 

Veteran  Furlough  and  March  to  Atlanta,  275 

Battle  of  the  22.1  of  July,        -        -  290 

Captain  W.  W.  McCarty*s  Imprisonment,  280 

Evacuation  and  Destruction  of  Atlanta,  310 

The  Georgia  March,    -  310 

Incidents,  etc.,    -----  313 

Savannah,            -          ....  323 

Beaufort,  South  Carolina,   -        -        -  £25 

Pocataligo,   "            "            -  325 

The  South  Carolina  Camp:aan,  -        -  328 

March  from  Raleigh  to  Washington,  D.C.  337 

Thence  to   Louisville,   Ky.,        -        -  3.';9 

Maj. -General  Legtxett's  Farewell  Address  341 

Maj. -General  Logan's           "            «  S46 


ERRATA-. 

On  page  16,  for  II.  P.  Trickeo  read  II.  P.  Flicker. 

On  page  18,  forD.  L.  Bigge  read  D.  L.  Bigger. 

On  page  88,  for  deserted  at  Memphis  read  Atlanta. 

On  page  45,  for  Figley  read  Riglej. 

On  page  61,  for  Martzell  read  Hartzell. 

On  page  66,  after  Thomas  W.  Hopes  to  First  Lieutenant 
read  also  died  at  Vicksburg. 

On  page  74,  for  the  following  are  marked  deserters  read 
the  following  have  died  of  disease. 


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